Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Supreme Court challenge filed as Tamil artist remains jailed under PTA
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…

Solidarity means more than placards

Jul 16, 2025
Thusiyan Nandakumar
Amid the many protests that have taken place in Colombo denouncing Israel’s genocide in Gaza, one placard stood out this month. It read “From Chemmani to Gaza – the earth remembers what states bury.” 

UK trade reforms boost Sri Lankan garment exports despite lack of rights conditions

Jul 16, 2025
The United Kingdom has announced a package of trade reforms that will further liberalise garment imports from Sri Lanka under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), sparking concern from rights advocates over the continued absence of any human rights conditions tied to such trade preferences.

Jaffna Hindu College marks 25th tribute to murdered Tamil student

Jul 16, 2025
A blood donation drive was held at Jaffna Hindu College on 13 July in memory of Sanjeevan, a former student who was killed by the Sri Lankan military on 13 July 2000 in Kaladdy. This year marks the 25th anniversary of his death.

‘Justice will not be served without international investigation’ – ITAK MP Shanakiyan

Jul 16, 2025
Speaking in Parliament this week, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam issued a call for the immediate establishment of an international investigation mechanism into human rights violations in Sri Lanka, warning that domestic structures were neither impartial nor capable of delivering justice.

US may terminate global war crimes accountability funding, including in Sri Lanka

Jul 16, 2025
The White House has recommended ending US funding for nearly two dozen programmes that support war crimes investigations and accountability efforts globally, including in Sri Lanka, according to a report in Reuters last month.

Mannar Tamils block water testing for proposed mineral sand excavation

Jul 16, 2025
Residents of Pesalai North in Mannar turned away officials from the Sri Lankan Water Resources Board on 15 July, preventing them from conducting water testing linked to a proposed mineral sand excavation project in the area.

Remains of Tamil girl found with blue school bag and toy at Chemmani mass grave

Jul 15, 2025

The skeletal remains of a young girl, discovered with a blue school bag and toy, have been formally identified as part of ongoing excavations at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court heard on 15 July.

The skeleton, labelled S-25, was examined by Forensic Medical Officer Pranavan Selliah, who reported to the court that the remains belonged to a girl estimated to be between four and five years old. The child’s body was found alongside a blue book bag and toy.

Foundation stone laid for Anton Balasingham statue in Paris

Jul 15, 2025
A commemorative event was held in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, on 12 July 2025 to mark the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a statue of Dr Anton Balasingham, the former political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and a central figure in the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle.

‘We want our land’ – Trincomalee residents protest land allocation to outsiders

Jul 15, 2025
Trincomalee residents protest land lease to outsiders near kanniya temple

TID summons Tamil activist over 2023 attack on Thileepan commemoration

Jul 15, 2025
Tamil activist Sinthujan summoned by TID over 2023 Thileepan commemoration attack while perpetrators remain unpunished
Solidarity means more than placards
UK trade reforms boost Sri Lankan garment exports despite lack of rights conditions
Jaffna Hindu College marks 25th tribute to murdered Tamil student
‘Justice will not be served without international investigation’ – ITAK MP Shanakiyan
US may terminate global war crimes accountability funding, including in Sri Lanka
Mannar Tamils block water testing for proposed mineral sand excavation
Remains of Tamil girl found with blue school bag and toy at Chemmani mass grave
Foundation stone laid for Anton Balasingham statue in Paris
‘We want our land’ – Trincomalee residents protest land allocation to outsiders
TID summons Tamil activist over 2023 attack on Thileepan commemoration
Solidarity means more than placards
UK trade reforms boost Sri Lankan garment exports despite lack of rights conditions
Jaffna Hindu College marks 25th tribute to murdered Tamil student
‘Justice will not be served without international investigation’ – ITAK MP Shanakiyan
US may terminate global war crimes accountability funding, including in Sri Lanka
Mannar Tamils block water testing for proposed mineral sand excavation
Remains of Tamil girl found with blue school bag and toy at Chemmani mass grave
Foundation stone laid for Anton Balasingham statue in Paris
‘We want our land’ – Trincomalee residents protest land allocation to outsiders
TID summons Tamil activist over 2023 attack on Thileepan commemoration