Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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A Guinness World Record set by nearly 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Galle Face in Colombo has sparked controversy, after activists questioned why the official recognition was awarded to organisers and an overseas instructor rather than the thousands of performers who paid to take part. The SANGAMAM-2026 event, held on 14 June, saw 4,988 dancers successfully set a new Guinness World Record for…

India offers Sri Lanka assistance to modernise army

India offered assistance and training to Sri Lanka to modernise its army, reports Colombo Page.

Arriving in Sri Lanka, the chief of the Indian army, General Dalbir Singh met with Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva on Monday.

India's new arms to Sri Lanka will be used to annihilate Tamils says PMK

The Tamil Nadu party, PMK on Monday urged India's central government to stop giving Sri Lanka new arms and military aid, the Business Standard reported.

Stating that India was intending to "give Lanka new war planes, arms, tanks and anti-aircraft weapons system," Mr Ramadoss said, "there is no doubt that such weaponry would be only used to annihilate Tamils. Thousands of reasons can be listed to deny supply of weaponry to Sri Lanka."

Sri Lanka's lecturer associations pledge to raise awareness of worsening national security

The National University Teachers Association and Kandy association of Scholars and Professionals agreed to canvas representatives of political parties, religious leaders about the growing dangers posed by abolishing existing security measures.

Convening in Peradeniya the group, which was addressed by Sri Lanka’s former external affairs minister GL Peiris, committed to using social media to reach the youth and warn them of growing dangers posed by abolishing existing security measures, reports the Island.

Sri Lankan president says no need for foreign judges

The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena said there was no need for the country to import judges from abroad, given the calibre of judges within Sri Lanka.

Delivering the keynote address at the BMICH event to mark the 50th anniversary of the appointment of Justice Weeramantry, Mr Sirisena was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying, "with judges of the calibre of one of the world’s most eminent jurists, C.G. Weeramantry, among us, he saw no reason for Sri Lanka to import judges".

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Sri Lankan military unveils new war monument in Vanni


The Sri Lankan military unveiled a new war monument in the former LTTE stronghold of the Vanni days before Tamils marked 'Maaveerar Naal' - a day of remembrance for fallen LTTE cadre.


The Sri Lankan army website said the monument was built "to pay tribute to brave hearts those who sacrificed their energetic youth, for establishing peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Mother Sri Lanka, by annihilating brutal and inhuman terrorism which spread over the country more than three decades".

Sri Lankan navy arrest 8 Tamil Nadu fishermen

The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday arrested eight Tamil Nadu fishermen, reports The Hindu.

The men were detained along with two of their boats, and taken to Kangesanthurai.

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here.

The arrest is the latest in the ongoing detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan navy personnel.

Sri Lanka’s transitional justice: Genuine move or red herring?

Noting the absence of commitment to demilitarisation of the North-East JS Tissainayagam questioned the Sri Lankan government’s commitment to an all-inclusive transitional justice process that had the buy in of the victims.

Writing in the Asian correspondent Mr Tissainayagam said,

Tamil poet denied visiting visa to launch book in Jaffna

Award winning Tamil poet and actor VIS Jeyapalan has been stopped by the Sri Lankan government from attending a launch of his latest book in Jaffna, reports Journalists for Democracy Sri Lanka.

Mr Jeyapalan was denied a visiting visa by Sri Lanka's authorities.

Mr Jeyapalan, who is based in Oslo, was arrested and deported in November 2013 when he visited his hometown in Jaffna after decades in exile.

Pakistan Navy ship on goodwill visit to Sri Lanka's Colombo port

Pakistan’s Naval Ship PNS Shamsheer is to arrive at Colombo port on a four day goodwill visit starting Monday, reports Colombo Page.

Pakistan’s naval commanders are expected to Sri Lanka’s navy officials.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have seen strengthening bi-lateral relations over past months.

Pakistan discusses bilateral defence ties with Sri Lanka military generals (08 Jun 2015)

Australian Senator calls for end of Sri Lanka's military occupation of Tamil homeland

Australian Senator for New South Wales, Lee Rhiannon called on the new Sri Lankan government to show its commitment to a reconciliation process be de-militarising the Tamil North-East.

Addressing Australia’s Tamil community at an event for the commemoration of Maaverar Naal, Ms Rhiannon said,

“If the new regime is genuine about reconciliation then there must be an immediate end to the military occupation of the Tamil homeland.”

Pledging support to the Tamil struggle for self-determination, she added,

“I pay my respects to the fallen heroes and everyone that continues to survive the ongoing genocide in the Tamil homeland.”

Full speech produced below.