Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A fundamental rights petition will be filed before Sri Lanka's Supreme Court seeking the release of Tamil artist Sangeethsan Ganeskumar, better known as HipHop Sangee, after his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran announced on Thursday. The move comes amid growing criticism of the rapper's detention and mounting calls from…

‘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.

White House nominates Eric Meyer as next US Ambassador to Sri Lanka

The White House has announced the nomination of Eric Meyer, a veteran American diplomat and current Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, to serve as the next United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka. 

81-year-old chief monk arrested for molesting female tourist

A chief monk of a temple in Habaraduwa has been arrested on the charge of molesting a female tourist on the premises.

The 81-year-old monk is reported to have offered food and beverages to the 41-year-old tourist from New Zealand on her visit to the temple. He allegedly invited her to a room in the temple and molested her there.

Ponnambalam calls for unified Tamil stance and full international inquiry into genocide

At a press conference in Jaffna last week, Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader and Member of Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam reiterated calls for a comprehensive international investigation into the long history of injustices and acts of genocide committed against the Tamil people, warning against piecemeal or contradictory approaches that could undermine the struggle for justice.

Sri Lanka detains 15 Indian fishermen for alleged trespassing in Mannar waters

15 Indian fishermen arrested for illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters remanded until July 31

Valikamam East Pradeshiya Sabha passes resolution demanding international justice for Tamil genocide

Valikamam east pradeshiya sabha passes resolution demanding international justice for Tamil genocide

Canadian envoy pledges support for reconstruction of North-East

Canadian high commissioner assures support for northern and eastern reconstruction in meeting with NPP Jaffna MPs

Military Governance in Post-War Sri Lanka: Revisiting the Logic of Downsizing

More than a decade after Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009, the country still maintains one of the world’s largest standing armies. This enduring militarisation cannot be explained by conventional security needs or fiscal prudence. Sri Lanka is an island with no land borders and faces no significant external military threat, yet its Army remains bloated. Why?

Black July commemoration in Jaffna to demand justice for Tamil political prisoners

‘Black July’ commemoration in Jaffna to demand justice and freedom for Tamil political prisoners

Mannar priest warns of mass protests over land rights violations and wind turbine expansion

Fr Marcus Adigalar, Chairperson of the Mannar Citizens’ Committee, has issued a strong warning to the Sri Lankan government, cautioning that large-scale protests will erupt if authorities fail to intervene and uphold the fundamental rights of local Tamil communities.