Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  A total of 302 skeletal remains have been identified during the excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site so far, whilst 298 have been completely exhumed.  Eight skeletal remains, including those of two children, were exhumed on Sunday (June 7), during the 18th day of the third phase of excavations. According to a legal expert from the excavation site, six additional skeletal…

Memorial held for Tamils killed by Indian Peace Keeping Force in Jaffna

A memorial was held to commemorate nine Tamils who were killed by the Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in Jaffna in 1989.

Relatives of the massacred laid flowers and lit candles before portraits of them, alongside politicians including former Northern Provincial Council member Ananthi Sasitharan. The nine were killed by Indian troops in Vatharavaththai, in 1989.

A memorial obelisk which was erected to honour the murdered, but it was demolished by the Sri Lankan army in 2012.

Sri Lanka reimposes ban on Tamil diaspora organisations

The Sri Lankan government reimposed its ban on several Tamil diaspora organisations last week, as well as hundreds of individuals, claiming they are engaging in “terrorism related activities”.

Through an extraordinary gazette notification signed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, fifteen different organisations and 210 individuals are barred from entering or operating in the country.

Sanctioned Sri Lankan war criminal given service extension

Sri Lankan war criminal Shavendra Silva, a man who remains barred from entering the USA due to his role in executing Tamils, has had his term as Chief of Defence Staff renewed by president Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Silva, who is barred from entering the USA “due to credible information of his involvement, through command responsibility, in gross violations of human rights”, was given a service extension for six months until December 31.

Tamil Eelam Women runners up in historic first CONIFA world cup

Tamil Eelam faced off against Sapmi in a thrilling final which saw the defending champions retain the trophy with a 2-1 win. 

The final was played at the home ground of FK Bodø/Glimt, the Aspmyra Stadium. The city of Bodø was chosen as the city to host the CONIFA WWFC2024. Tamil Eelam were participating in their first CONIFA Women’s World Cup with an energetic team chosen from players across the diaspora. The route to the final had seen the team score 3 goals and had now brought them up against current holders Sapmi. 

Nowhere to hide

Britain’s Metropolitan Police made a significant announcement this week; only the second of its kind. A man accused of committing war crimes in Sri Lanka was arrested in South London. Though this is just a single person being investigated it sends a powerful message to those in Colombo and other human rights abusers around the world, that they cannot escape justice. British authorities must now follow through.

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court overturns presidential pardon for Park Royal murder

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has issued a rare ruling overturning a former president Maithripala Sirisena’s pardon of Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, over the 2005 Royal Park murder.

Rwanda is an ‘open prison’ say Eelam Tamil refugees

A group of Eelam Tamil refugees who have been transferred to Rwanda by the British government have told the BBC that the country is an “open prison”, complaining of sexual harassment and isolation.  

The four who spoke to the BBC were sent to Rwanda from Diego Garcia over a year ago, and were part of a larger group of Tamils who fled persecution in Sri Lanka. They were all sent to the African country for medical treatment after suicide attempts in the remote British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

Sri Lanka's foreign secretary lashes out at Canadian minister over genocide recognition

Following the 15th anniversary of the end of the armed conflict, Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary, Aruni Wijewardane, met with Canada's Deputy Minister for International Development, Christopher MacLennan, and Canadian High Commissioner, Eric Walsh, where he objected to Canada's recognition of the Tamil genocide.

Sri Lanka’s envoy lashes out at UN Human Rights High Commissioner's report

Responding to a damming report by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which warned that Sri Lanka’s failures to tackle impunity threatened futher enforced disappearances, Sri Lanka’s envoy to Geneva claimed the report was “biased, politicised, and self-generated”.

The report, released a day in advance of the 15th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, detailed the failures of successive Sri Lankan governments to “tackle structural weaknesses and undertake necessary reform”.

Tamil Eelam victorious against Székely Land at CONIFA Women's World Cup

Tamil Eelam secured a historic win against Székely Land Le at the CONIFA Women's World Cup. 

Matchday two of the CONIFA Women's World Cup saw Tamil Eelam play two games at Morkvedlia Idrettspark. The first game saw Tamil Eelam against tournament hosts FA Sapmi. The first half was physical with both teams unable to break the deadlock. The second half saw goals for FA Sampi with the game ending 0-2.