Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka's Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Media and Health, Nalinda Jayatissa, has said that the government cannot unilaterally disclose the contents of a recently signed Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India without mutual consent from New Delhi. The agreement was signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo.  Responding to questions…

Mullaitivu families of the disappeared demand international oversight in mass grave excavation

On July 12th, the families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu conducted a protest to demand international oversight during the ongoing excavation and exhumation of a mass grave discovered in Kokkuthoduvai, Mullaitivu.

This protest is part of a long-standing struggle by the families of the disappeared, who have been continuously voicing their concerns for over 2,500 days since March 2017. 

Tamils block land surveying attempt for Sri Lankan naval base expansion in Mandaithivu

Residents of Mandaithivu blocked Sri Lankan officials from carrying our their land survey to expand a Sri Lankan naval base last week. 

On July 12th, local Tamils held  a protest to obstruct the Sri Lankan survey department from surveying 18 acres of land belonging to 29 individuals to expand the Welisumana Naval base.  

Mother of former accused in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case pleads to Wickremesinghe for son's repatriation

Mother of Santhan, who was released after being imprisoned over the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, has written a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to expedite his repatriation. 

Maaveeran - Meta-masala done well

Madonne Ashwin’s debut 2021 National Award winning film ‘Mandela’ was received warmly by critics and audiences alike. The Yogi Babu starring satire deftly explored themes of identity and politics without compromising artistic sensibility. For his follow-up feature, Ashwin teams up with Sivakarthikeyan for the satisfying meta-masala film ‘Maaveeran.’ This is a return to form for Sivakarthikeyan, whose recent two films 2022’s ‘Don’ and ‘Prince’ failed to live up to the quality of 2021’s ‘Doctor.’

Sinhala mob attempts to block Pongal celebrations in Mullaitivu

A Pongal event planned at the Kurunthurmalai site in Mullaitivu turned into a tense and chaotic situation as Tamil devotees faced harsh opposition from a crowd of Sinhala Buddhist monks, with the aid of officials of the Sri Lankan government and Sri Lankan Police.

The Pongal celebration, whilst approved by Mullaitivu's Magistrate Court on 13th July, faced opposition from Sinhala extremists demanding that Tamil devotees stop their worship and not erect idols to their gods.

Sri Lanka's forest department officials destroy homes of former LTTE cadres in Mullaitivu

Officers from Sri Lanka's forest department broke into and destroyed the homes of former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres before assaulting them in the Kailveli area of Puthukudiyirippu, Mullaitivu today. 

45 families of the LTTE were settled in Kaiveli in 2000 under a housing scheme but after the armed conflict when they tried to resettle in the area in 2012, the forest department erected stone boundaries to prevent this. 

Sri Lankan defence ministers targets students from North-East to join National Cadet Corps for 'Social intelligence deployment'

State Minister of Defense Premitha Bandara Tennakoon speaking at a conference said that attention should be focussed on students from the North-East to join the 'National Cadets Corps'. 

During a press conference held at the Presidential Media Center last week, titled 'Collective Path to a stable country, the Defence minister noted that stricter laws should be implemented to curb illegal human and drug trafficking. L

Poralihal Welfare Association office inaugurated in Vavuniya

The Poralihal Welfare Association, an organisation dedicated to the welfare of former cadres, officially opened its office in a ceremony held on Saturday.

The establishment of this office aims to provide essential services and support for former cadres, ensuring their well-being. Former LTTE cadres are often subjected to intimidation and surveillance by the state's security forces. 

28th anniversary of Navaly church massacre commemorated at St. Peter's Church

The St. Peter's Church solemnly marked the 28th anniversary of the Navaly church massacre on July 9th to remember the victims that were killed by the Sri Lanka'a Air Force.

MP Weerasekara lashes out at Mullaitivu judge

Retired admiral and former Minister of Public Security, MP Sarath Weerasekara, lashed out at Mullaitivu Magistrate Court following the court's ruling that the construction of a Buddhist vihara, without the approval of local residents, must cease.

"Do not forget that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala- Buddhist nation" warned Weerasekara. Despite the court's order, the police, military, and Department of Archaeology have all been involved in the construction of the Buddhist monument".