Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Pon. Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle, was remembered today in Urumpirai, Jaffna, on the 52nd anniversary of his death.  Sivakumaran was a member of the Tamil Manavar Peravai (or Tamil Student Federation, TSF) and a leading militant in the early armed Tamil struggle. On 5th June 1974, Sivakumaran was surrounded by Sri Lankan security forces. He had…

Jaffna civil society groups call for release of Tamil political prisoners 

Civil society organisations gathered in Jaffna yesterday to demand the immediate release of Tamil political prisoners held under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), during a public discussion held at Chelva Hall.

The Labour Party one year on

It has been over a year since the Labour Party returned to power in the United Kingdom with a sweeping majority and a bold promise to reshape foreign policy through the lens of justice, human rights, and upholding international law. For British Tamils, this victory brought cautious hope. After 14 years of Conservative stagnation on accountability for the genocide committed by Sri Lanka, Labour offered not just vocal support, but made explicit commitments to pursue justice for the mass atrocities. Today, that optimism has curdled into frustration, as those pledges remain unfulfilled.

Human remains discovered near site of 1990 Sampur massacre by Sri Lankan troops


Workers from the British demining organisation Mine Action Group (MAG) have uncovered human skeletal remains during landmine clearance operations at a children’s park in Sampur, in the Trincomalee district. The discovery was made on Sunday 20 July, just metres from the location where at least 57 Tamil civilians were massacred by Sri Lankan government forces in July 1990.

Jayam Ravi criticised for meeting Sri Lankan foreign minister accused of genocide denial

Kollywood actor and producer Jayam Ravi has come under criticism after meeting with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, a key figure in the current government who has openly denied the Tamil genocide and threatened legal action against those who use the term.

Equal rights movement protests against PTA in Jaffna

Symbolic signature campaign in Jaffna calls for repeal of PTA and justice for the disappeared

Minister's secret visit to illegal Thaiyiddy temple sparks backlash from local council

A covert visit by Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar and Jaffna District Secretary M. Pradeepan to an unauthorised Buddhist vihara in Thaiyiddy has triggered a strong backlash from the Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha, after the officials failed to notify local authorities in advance.

Tamil Eelam’s Asia Cup triumph - More than just football

The CONIFA Asia Cup concluded last week in London with Tamil Eelam’s team defending their title in a dominant display of footballing skill. In a thrilling final, Tamil Eelam faced off against East Turkistan and secured a resounding 5–0 victory to retain the championship.

India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to acquire Colombo Dockyard in landmark deal

India’s state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is set to acquire a controlling stake in Sri Lanka’s largest maritime facility, the Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), marking the first-ever international acquisition by an Indian shipbuilding firm.

Wimal Weerawansa raises alarm over Indian role in Sri Lanka’s e-NIC system and defence ties

Sinhala extremist and National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has voiced strong opposition to the Sri Lankan government’s decision to award the development of its electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) system to an Indian non-profit organisation, claiming it raises serious concerns over “national security”.

‘Release our ancestral lands’ - Tamil landowners from Jaffna protest outside Presidential Secretariat

Tamil landowners from Valikamam in Jaffna staged a protest outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo earlier this week, demanding the immediate return of their ancestral lands still under the control of the Sri Lankan military.