Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Activists protest mineral sand mining threatening East coast
Environmentalists and civil society activists protested at Galle Face in Colombo on 17 June against proposed heavy mineral sand mining along the eastern coastline from Oluvil to Pothuvil, warning that the project threatens the land, fisheries and livelihoods of Tamil and Muslim communities across the Eastern Province. According to the People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), exploration…

Hundreds gather at Jaffna University for May 18 remembrance

May 17, 2016

Students and staff gathered in their hundreds at the University of Jaffna for the institution's event to mark the 7th anniversary of the end of the armed conflict.

Candles lit in Mannar for Mullivaikkal dead

May 17, 2016


Tamils in Mannar came together on Wednesday to commemorate the 7th year anniversary of the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict.

Vaaharai Tamils commemorate May 18 amid military surveillance

May 17, 2016

Tamils in Vaaharai, Batticaloa, gathered in remembrance of those who died in the last phase of the armed conflict, as Sri Lankan intelligence officials looked on.

The event, held in Manikkapuram, was organised by the Tamil National People's Front and saw a Hindu priest conduct a poosai.


Special prayers at Keerimalai for Mullivaikkal dead

May 17, 2016


A special prayer service was conducted at the Keerimalai temple on Wednesday in memory of the tens of thousands of Tamils killed in 2009 as the armed conflict drew to an end.

‘Everyone must join the fight for justice’ – C V Wigneswaran

May 17, 2016

The Chief Minister of the Northern Province renewed calls for justice for the lives lost in the massacres of 2009 and urged the international community to ensure accountability is delivered, in a speech given at Mullivaikkal earlier today.

Justice Wigneswaran reflected on the number of lives lost in those final months, noting that Bishop Rayappu Joseph’s figure of 146,679 Tamils missing remains unaccounted for.

“Every week, people who have lost their families, relatives of persons whose family members are missing, people injured in war, people who are crippled by war, people who have lost vision, orphaned young ones, who have lost their dear parents and housewives who head their families are coming to meet me,” said the chief minister.

“All of them want justice.”

Eastern Uni remembers Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide

May 17, 2016


Students at the Eastern university defied military surveillance, to hold the 'Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide memorial event' on Wednesday evening local time.

Lighting candles, the students remembered the massacre that unfolded.

Mangala Samaraweera accepts legitimacy of No Fire Zone documentary evidence

May 17, 2016
Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera confirmed that video evidence of war time atrocities committed by Sri Lanka’s armed forces was true.

Lamenting the Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dismissal of the video evidence, Mr Samaraweera said,

“Instead, laughably, you gave it to forensic experts hired by the Defence Ministry in order to disprove the footage’s authenticity. In fact, according to the information we have the video footage is not only authentic but was given to Channel 4 by members of the armed forces who themselves were deeply shocked at some of the acts carried out as a result of orders from above.”

Sri Lanka’s current president Maithripala Sirisena is yet to accept the No Fire Zone documentary evidence, which was made available in SInhalese, as fact.

UK opposition leader stands with Tamils for justice and self-determination

May 17, 2016

The leader of the British opposition Jeremy Corbyn expressed his solidarity with the Tamil people and reiterated calls for justice and self determination, in a message released to mark the 7th year anniversary since the massacres at Mullivaikkal.

“I offer my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and loved ones of those that died during the final days and weeks of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict,” said Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“My thoughts today are also with the wider Tamil community who have shouldered injustice for decades and remain resolute in their determination for justice.”

“We will stand with you in your pursuit of truth, justice, accountability, reconciliation and self-determination in Sri Lanka.”

Military intelligence forcefully enters Uthayan remembrance event

May 17, 2016
Sinhalese intelligence officers forcefully entered the Uthayan newspaper offices in Jaffna on Wednesday, whilst its employees were holding a blood donation event to commemorate the Mullivaikal massacres of 2009.

When questioned by Uthayan staff, the officers said that they were from the Sri Lankan police and were present to take pictures.

The intelligence personnel forcefully entered the event in civilian clothing without providing identification to organisers. Uthayan staff who organised the event have complained to the local police department.




Obstructing remembrance precludes justice and reconciliation says Pearl

May 17, 2016
The US based rights organisation, PEARL on Wednesday warned that "repudiations of accountability hinder prospects for enduring peace and stability on the island".

"Despite the importance of allowing Tamils to publicly mourn those who died in military attacks, the government of Sri Lanka has consistently obstructed their remembrance efforts each year for the past seven years. Security personnel have photographed and followed participants in this year’s commemoration events over the past week," the group said in a statement.

Candles lit in Mannar for Mullivaikkal dead
Vaaharai Tamils commemorate May 18 amid military surveillance
Special prayers at Keerimalai for Mullivaikkal dead
‘Everyone must join the fight for justice’ – C V Wigneswaran
Eastern Uni remembers Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide
Mangala Samaraweera accepts legitimacy of No Fire Zone documentary evidence
UK opposition leader stands with Tamils for justice and self-determination
Military intelligence forcefully enters Uthayan remembrance event
Obstructing remembrance precludes justice and reconciliation says Pearl
UK Conservative party renews call for justice on May 18th
Candles lit in Mannar for Mullivaikkal dead
Vaaharai Tamils commemorate May 18 amid military surveillance
Special prayers at Keerimalai for Mullivaikkal dead
‘Everyone must join the fight for justice’ – C V Wigneswaran
Eastern Uni remembers Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide
Mangala Samaraweera accepts legitimacy of No Fire Zone documentary evidence
UK opposition leader stands with Tamils for justice and self-determination
Military intelligence forcefully enters Uthayan remembrance event
Obstructing remembrance precludes justice and reconciliation says Pearl
UK Conservative party renews call for justice on May 18th