Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

We will not stop' vows Sri Lankan minister, as UN slams 'Yukthiya' Operation

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles has vowed to continue the controversial “Yukthiya” Operation adding that they "will not stop based on anyone’s statement", after coming under criticism from the UN human rights c

Addressing a gathering of media and newly appointed members to community police committees, Alles cautioned that there “was a gang of people who are envious and working against the interest of this country.”

Spy on your neighbours to prevent ‘terrorism’, says police chief

Sri Lanka's Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has called on the "community police committees" to spy on residents in their local villages and collect information  to prevent "extremism" and "terrorism", claiming that it is part of their effort to safeguard the country’s national security. 

“To prevent such unfortunate incidents (attacks on Easter Sunday), the community police committee in every Grama Niladhari's main duty is to collect information about people residing in your area,” he told a gathering of newly appointed community police members in Avisawella. “This committee should visit each household in their respective village.The  printed Police form 76 has the details in all three languages.”

Sri Lanka’s Reconciliation Bill aimed at deflecting international attention - ICJ

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ),  in a statement issued recently, said a bill gazetted by Sri Lanka to establish a Commission for Truth, Unity, and Reconciliation, "lacks credibility and is unlikely to bring accountability". The ICJ cited it is concerned the lack of consultation with victim communities and the continued neglect of their long-standing demands deprives the bill of its legitimacy. 

Sri Lanka’s president applauds South Africa’s charge against Israel of genocide

Addressing the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kampala, Uganda, Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ and to support Palestinians rights to self-determination.

Sri Lanka prisons exceed capacity by 232%

A recent government audit based on data collected between 2015-2022 notes that the prison capacity has been exceeded by 232%.

The report is based on data collected between 2015 and 2022. It is noted that the number of inmates in the overall prison system in Sri Lanka increased from 139% to 232% of the capacity of the prisons. 

Sri Lanka's Justice Minister claims only '14 political prisoners' in jail

Sri Lanka's Justice Minister Vijayadasa Rajapaksa sparked outrage and demands for transparency with a recent assertion that only 14 Tamil political prisoners are currently incarcerated in Sri Lankan jails. 

Our relatives have been buried in this land' - Locals halt alleged land grab at Mullaitivu Thuyilum Illam

Local Tamils in Muillaitivu have blocked attempts by the Survey Department of Sri Lanka to allegedly grab land in which the Mullaitivu Thuyilum Illam is situated, a site holding cultural and emotional significance as the resting place for fallen LTTE cadres.

Sivagnanam Shritharan pays tribute to Maaveerar after being elected as ITAK leader

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In a closely contested poll held at the Trincomalee Municipal Council Auditorium on Sunday, Member of Parliament Sivagnanam Shritharan clinched victory, securing the position of the new leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), a Tamil political party that has headed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) coalition. Immediately following the announcement, Shritharan paid his respects at Kanagapuram Maveerar Thuyilum Illam, to pay homage to Tamils who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Tamil Eelam.

"I wanted the past to be very present" - Interview with Akil Kumarasamy

“Why is it so unbearable to look in the face of human vulnerability?” asks author Akil Kumarasamy, in her latest literary offering “Meet us by the Roaring Sea” - a question apt for a society grappling with a loneliness epidemic.