Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Bharatanatyam world record in Colombo sparks row over recognition and costs
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…

NPC Member lights flame for Maaveerar Naal in Mullaitivu

Nov 27, 2015

Northern Provincial Council Member T Ravikaran marked Maaveerar Naal in Mullaitivu on Friday, joining other commemoration events that took place across the North-East.

Mr Ravikaran lit a flame in memory of those who had sacrificed their lives for the Tamil nation, he said.

Tamils gather in Paris to commemorate Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015

Hundreds of French Tamils in Paris commemorated Maaveerar Naal in an outdoor ceremony on Friday.

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka calls for the immediate release of detainees

Nov 27, 2015
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka called for the “immediate release” of detainees and expressed concern about the proposed rehabilitation process in a press release issued Friday. The Commission, chaired by Dr. N.D. Udagama, stated that they have written to the Attorney General of Sri Lanka, Mr. Y.J. Wijayatilake, “conveying to him its grave concern about the rights of detainees and remandees under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Regulations.”

Canada’s top court rules human smuggling law too broad in MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady cases

Nov 27, 2015
Migrants helping themselves, or other refugees or asylum-seekers flee persecution cannot be considered human smugglers and deemed inadmissible, Canada’s top court ruled on Friday.

In two separate but related cases, the Supreme Court of Canada issued decisions on charges of human smuggling against individuals including asylum-seekers from the MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady, two ships that arrived in Canada in 2009 and 2010, carrying hundreds of Tamil asylum-seekers fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka.

Tamil refugees in Indonesia mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015

Tamil refugees at a camp in Indonesia marked Maaveerar Naal by lighting candles before portraits of fallen fighters, on Friday.

Maaveerar Naal remembered in Norway

Nov 27, 2015


A commemorative event was held in Oslo, Norway on Friday to mark Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil Remembrance Day.

Families of the missing and disappeared protest in Jaffna

Nov 27, 2015

Families of Tamil the missing and those who were disappeared after being detained by the Sri Lanka military protested on Saturday in Jaffna demanding all details of their possible whereabouts to be released.

US Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015

All photos: Tamil Guardian

US Tamils gathered in New York City and San Francisco on Friday, to commemorate Maaveerar Naal.

Tamils from New York, New Jersey and surrounding states gathered at Glen Oaks school in Queens to mark the annual Tamil remembrance day.

Students at Eastern Uni mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015
Photographs: Theechudar

Students at the Eastern University in Batticaloa marked Tamil National Remembrance Day on Friday, lighting candles in memory of those who gave their lives to the Tamil struggle.

Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Trincomalee

Nov 27, 2015

Tamils in Trincomalee gathered to commemorate their war dead on church premises on Friday.  Families of those that died at the hands of the Sri Lankan state lit the ceremonial flame as local priests bore witness. 
Tamils gather in Paris to commemorate Maaveerar Naal
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka calls for the immediate release of detainees
Canada’s top court rules human smuggling law too broad in MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady cases
Tamil refugees in Indonesia mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal remembered in Norway
Families of the missing and disappeared protest in Jaffna
US Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal
Students at Eastern Uni mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Trincomalee
UK pledges £6.6 million for military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Tamils gather in Paris to commemorate Maaveerar Naal
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka calls for the immediate release of detainees
Canada’s top court rules human smuggling law too broad in MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady cases
Tamil refugees in Indonesia mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal remembered in Norway
Families of the missing and disappeared protest in Jaffna
US Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal
Students at Eastern Uni mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Trincomalee
UK pledges £6.6 million for military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation in Sri Lanka