Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka extends emergency rule as only Tamil MPs oppose the measure
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.…

British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014

Thousands of British Tamils gathered at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London on Thursday, to commemorate the nation's day of remembrance - Maaveerar Naal.

The event began with the ceremonious lighting of a flame of remembrance, coinciding with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the struggle against Sri Lankan state oppression.

The ceremonial flame was lit by the mother of Isaipriya, a Tamil news anchor and journalist who was killed in May 2009.

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Photographs: Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)

In London, British Tamils from across began the event with the ceremonious lighting of remembrance flames to coincide with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the fight against Sri Lankan state oppression.

Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014

Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran led a Maaveerar Naal tribute in Mullaithivu. Ravikaran was joined by over fifteen citizens, including the mother of a Maaveerar.

Conscripted Tamil women raped by Sri Lankan military

Nov 25, 2014
Tamil women, who were recently conscripted into the Sri Lankan military, were taken from Mullaitheevu to a Sri Lankan military party in Mihintale and raped on Saturday, reports Tamilnet.

After being returned to their original areas, the Tamil women’s complaints to the Sri Lankan police were ignored, whilst being belittled by the Sri Lankan military Civil Security Department (CSD).

Three arrests over Maaveerar Naal posters

Nov 25, 2014

2nd lead 14:45 GMT

Poster in the North-East saluting fallen fighters (TamilNet)
 

Police in the North-East have arrested three people for activities relating to the Tamil remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, reported the Uthayan on Tuesday.

Two arrests were made in Mirusuvil and one near Puththur junction and the detained were in possession of Maaveerar Naal posters, according to sources.

SL intelligence launches investigation into Uthayan over LTTE leader 60th birthday article

Nov 25, 2014
Sri Lankan intelligence officers are to launch an investigation into the Uthayan, alleging that the newspaper had celebrated LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's birthday, reports BBC Sinhala.

The investigation was launched after the Jaffna based daily published an article which included a photograph of a billboard in India, which featured Prabhakaran's image and the words: "60th birthday of the leader of the Tamils. The auspicious day the god of our nation was incarnated.”

TNPF office surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel

Nov 25, 2014
The Tamil National People’s Front's office has been surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel since this afternoon at 4pm local time, the party said.

The military surveillance comes on the day before the Tamil national remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, and on the day of the birthday of the LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran.

Intelligence officers have been stationed at the office door, the party said, adding that as a result local residents are afraid to leave their houses due to the overwhelming military presence.

Earlier this week, the TNPF issued a statement calling on the international community to provide protection for Jaffna University students and staff facing death threats by unidentified persons, thought to be connected to the Sri Lankan military.

Heavy military presence at Jaffna Uni ahead of Maaveerar Naal

Nov 25, 2014
Photograph Uthayan


SL Army personnel and police officers have been seen deployed around the University of Jaffna, since last night with two military vehicles stationed close by,
the day before the Tamil national remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, reports the Uthayan newspaper.

The University of Jaffna was closed suddenly today, with university administrative officials saying the university would remain closed until December 1st. Students living in hostels have been ordered to vacate the premises until then.

Australian senator remembers Tamils killed by systematic Sri Lankan state brutality

Nov 25, 2014
An Australian Greens senator for New South Wales, speaking in parliament, issued a statement remembering Tamils in Sri Lanka that had been killed by “more than 60 years of systematic Sri Lankan state orchestrated brutality towards them.”



Lee Rhiannon went on to condemn the government of Australia’s handling of Tamil asylum seekers reaching the shores of Australia, and reminded MPs of the need to consult the Tamil diaspora and multiple international human rights organisations to combat misinformation provided by Sri Lankan government propaganda.

Noting that the world had “woken up” to the crimes of the Sri Lankan government, the senator ended by warning the Australian government that Australia could be one of the last standing countries to give “cover to a President and government accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and ongoing human rights abuses."

Full transcript reproduced below.

TNPF condemns death threats against Jaffna Uni students

Nov 25, 2014
The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) said it "severely condemns" the issuing of death threats against four Jaffna University students and one lecturer, warning them against remembering Tamil national remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal on November 27.

"Posters have been posted inside Jaffna University's premises including the names of four students and a lecturer, threatening to shoot and kill them. The names listed in the posters are english department's dean and the University Teachers’ Union Leader, Amirthalingam Rasakumaran, as well as 3rd year media studies students, Thurairasa Thamilselvan, Kanesalingam Nivas, and Thangarasa Ayngaran, and 3rd year geography student Philipeiris Britto," the TNPF said in a statement.

"The poster, written in inaccurate Tamil, warned not to observe Maaveerar Naal events, and if observed, [the students and staff] will be shot and killed. As only the Sri Lankan government and the army have been continuously making threats not to hold remembrance events, we suspect that the posters published between 21 and 27 during Maaveerar remembrance week were posted by Sri Lanka military intelligence officers," the TNPF said.

Rathika Sitsabaiesan commemorates 'Tamil Heroes Day' in Canadian parliament

Nov 25, 2014
A New Democratic Party (NDP) MP in a statement commemorating "Remembrance Day and Tamil Heroes Day," urged Canadian parliament to work towards peace and justice at "home and abroad" whilst highlighting injustices that ethnic communities faced in Sri Lanka.



Rathika Sitsabaiesan, an MP  for Scarborough Rouge River, spoke on the ongoing injustices and discrimination that ethnic and religious communities in Sri Lanka continued to face.

Full transcript reproduced below. 
Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal
Conscripted Tamil women raped by Sri Lankan military
Three arrests over Maaveerar Naal posters
SL intelligence launches investigation into Uthayan over LTTE leader 60th birthday article
TNPF office surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel
Heavy military presence at Jaffna Uni ahead of Maaveerar Naal
Australian senator remembers Tamils killed by systematic Sri Lankan state brutality
TNPF condemns death threats against Jaffna Uni students
Rathika Sitsabaiesan commemorates 'Tamil Heroes Day' in Canadian parliament
Ananthy Sasitharan's office under military surveillance
Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal
Conscripted Tamil women raped by Sri Lankan military
Three arrests over Maaveerar Naal posters
SL intelligence launches investigation into Uthayan over LTTE leader 60th birthday article
TNPF office surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel
Heavy military presence at Jaffna Uni ahead of Maaveerar Naal
Australian senator remembers Tamils killed by systematic Sri Lankan state brutality
TNPF condemns death threats against Jaffna Uni students
Rathika Sitsabaiesan commemorates 'Tamil Heroes Day' in Canadian parliament
Ananthy Sasitharan's office under military surveillance