Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Sri Lanka invites Israel farmers to visit island and recruit workers

Sri Lanka’s Labour and Foreign Employment Minister says he discussed with the visiting Israeli ambassador to vet and recruit Sri Lankan workers for its agriculture sector.

File photograph: Israeli Defense Force, 2021.

Nanayakkara said Sri Lanka had sent unskilled workers, without any training, to Israel in the first batch, since the state had an urgent need for workers at the time.

New organisation launched in Jaffna to protect Tamil fishermen rights

A new organization, called the North-East Young Fishermen's Association, has been launched in Jaffna this week, with Tamil youth from across the North-East uniting to voice their concerns, formulate policies and advance the rights of fishermen across the homeland.

The association was initiated with the guidance of Mannar Social and Economic Development Organization (MSEDO) with youth from all seven districts attending the event.

Sri Lanka's TID summons Tamil families of the disappeared leader in Batticaloa

Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has summoned the leader of the Tamil families of the disappeared in Batticaloa as surveillance of Tamil activists continues in the North-East. 

‘Where are they?’ – Tamil families of the disappeared continue protests in Jaffna

Tamil families of the disappeared protested in Jaffna earlier today as they continue to seek answers on the fate of their relatives who were forcibly disappeared by Sri Lanka’s security forces.

“Where are they? Where are the families that surrendered to the Sri Lankan military? Where are all the people who were taken for investigation by Sri Lanka’s security forces?” the families asked as they gathered in Jaffna. 

Foreign Secretary asks Home Secretary to give Sri Lankan asylum seekers Diego Garcia safe haven in UK

British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has formally requested the Home Secretary, Yvetter Cooper, to grant asylum to over 60 Tamils who have been stranded on diego Garcia, the largest island in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), since 2021. In his letter, Lammy emphasised the urgent and escalating risk of harm, particularly to children among the detainees.

Mass protests in Rameshwaram over Sri Lanka's arrests of Indian fishermen

A massive protest was held by fishermen from Rameshwaram and neighboring districts in Tamil Nadu last week over the arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

The protestors condemned the Indian central government for not looking into these arrests, with several political parties also joining the protests to show their solidarity with the cause. 

Sinhala politician and Tamil Eelam supporter Wickramabahu Karunaratne passes away

Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne who called for the international recognition of the “ongoing” genocide of Tamils and the recognition of Tamil Eelam as a state has passed away in Colombo. He was 81 at the time of this death. 

We don't want a death certificate, we want a judicial investigation' - families of the disappeared demand in Batticaloa

The family members of the enforced disappeared gathered in Batticaloa in protest, demanding that the Sri Lankan government allow foreign experts to conduct a thorough judicial investigation. Young children and women were seen at the Gandhi Park in Batticaloa carrying placards and demanding the government deliver justice. "We don't want a death certificate or compensation, we want a judicial investigation,"  they demanded. 

Sri Lanka's former army chief and accused war criminal announces presidential bid

Sri Lanka's former army commander and accused war criminal Sarath Fonseka has announced his bid for the presidential elections which are to be held later this year.

Taking to Twitter to make the announcement, he claimed that for the last 76 years, Sri Lanka has "been led by an inept political group that has led us to bankruptcy. ". He went on to state that for Sri Lanka to grow it needs to "crush corruption" and "leverage our natural resources". 

Skeletal remains discovered in Colombo - again

Construction workers in Colombo who were at a site near the Old Secretariat in Colombo - Fort discovered human skeletal remains last week.

The workers who are attached to a private construction firm said the remains were found nearly 6 feet underground.