Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday approved a further extension of the country's state of public emergency, with all seven votes against the measure cast by Tamil Members of Parliament. The motion was passed by 135 votes in favour and seven against, a majority of 128. The seven MPs who opposed the extension were Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Sivagnanam Shritharan, K. Kodeeswaran, G. Srineshan, T.…

Sri Lankan army marks World Children’s Day in Jaffna despite concerns over militarisation

Amidst concerns of increasing military involvement in civilian life across the North-East, the Sri Lankan military held a series of events across Jaffna this month to mark World Children’s Day this month.

Tamils protest in Jaffna against detention of political prisoners amid STF intimidation

Sri Lanka's armed Special Task Force officers were deployed to Jaffna on Friday, surrounding Tamils protesting outside the Northern governor's office against the ongoing detention of Tamil political prisoners. 

UN Rapporteur visits Mullivaikkaal and Tamil protestors in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu

The UN Special Rapporteur for Truth, Justice and Reparations visited Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu on Thursday.

Bodies of murdered Tamil youth found in Jaffna

The bodies of two Tamil youth who have been killed in Nunavil in Jaffna have been recovered by Sri Lankan police, reports The Island.

It is unclear how the youth were killed, with conflicting reports over the cause of death.

The bodies of the youth have now been transferred from the Chavakachcheri hospital to Jaffna Hospital, where post-mortems are to be conducted.

 

 

Sirisena meets with NFF over Sri Lankan constitution

The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday met with the National Freedom Front group regarding the constitution amendment. 

The NFF, led by Wimal Weerawansa has been vociferous in campaigning against any constitutional change, arguing that "the government was trying to bring in the new Constitution on the requirement of the Western forces and Tamil Diaspora to please Tamil separatists."

"NFF has informed the President regarding three main points including the new constitutional amendment," Adaderana reported. 

Sri Lankan navy arrest 5 Tamil Nadu fishermen

Sri Lankan navy personnel arrested five Tamil Nadu fishermen on Thuesday, who are alleged to have crossed into the island's waters, The Hindu reported. 

The men were reported to have been fishing off the cost of Neduntheevu. 

“The naval men also seized the boat used by the fishermen from this town and took them to Mannar naval camp in Sri Lanka,” Manikandan, Assistant Director of Fisheries, was quoted by The Hindu as saying. 

Tamil civil society and political orgs call for strike in solidarity with political prisoners

Families of Tamil political prisoners at special prayers for the detainees at Nallur Kandasamy Kovil.

Photo: Hamsan for Tamil Guardian

Tamil civil society and political organisations have called for businesses and institutions to remain closed on Friday, October 13, in solidarity with Tamil political prisoners and their demands.

7 Tamils killed by Sri Lankan STF remembered in Amparai

On Monday, Amparai residents remembered 7 Tamils shot dead by Sri Lankan Special Task Force Troops in Thirukkovil in 2002.

Sri Lankan soldiers undertake dengue clean up in North-East schools

More than 1,000 Sri Lankan troops took part in a dengue cleanup program at schools across Kilinochchi and Vavuniya last month, declared an official military website

Sri Lankan military donates books to school library in Mullaitivu

The commander of Sri Lanka’s 591 Brigade oversaw a military ceremony to donate books to a children’s school library in Mullaitivu last month.