Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan has accused the National People's Power (NPP) government of hypocrisy over the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), pointing to NPP politicians who had themselves circulated songs glorifying the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during election campaigns. Sangeethsan, known…

Naane Varuvean: Selvaraghavan’s (strangely) tamest Tamil feature

Less than a month after watching a film about an immoral set of twins in ‘Cobra’, Selvaraghavan’s ‘Naane Varuvean’ is released. Thankfully, this film is much better. 

US Congress members demand State Department use sanctions on Sri Lanka

A bipartisan letter to the US Secretary of State called on Washington to “use all diplomatic tools available, including sanctions,” to ensure that perpetrators of war crimes in Sri Lanka are held to account.

Vavuniya students suffering as buses refuse to take them to school

Tamil school students in Vavuniya staged a protest demanding local buses stop and pick them up to and from school this week, as the troubled public transport system is impacting on their education.

A protest was carried out in Kollar Puliankulam area, along the main A9 road at 7 am.

‘Protect our youth from drug addiction!’

Following a spate of reported drug-related deaths in Jaffna, staff at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital held a rally through the town on Thursday, demanding action be taken to prevent substance abuse and addiction.

As many as 10-drug related deaths are reported to have occurred in Jaffna within the span of the last three months.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister heaps praise on China

Sri Lanka’s prime minister was gushing with praise for China this week, calling the state a “true decisive global leader” and Sri Lanka’s “Kalyana Mitra” - a Buddhist concept meaning a special friend in times of happiness as well sorrow.

Dinesh Gunawardena, Sri Lanka’s former foreign secretary, made the comments during remarks at the 73rd Chinese National Day Anniversary Celebrations organized by China-Sri Lanka Friendship Associations at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel on Wednesday.

Vaiko reiterates call for referendum on Tamil Eelam

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko urged the Indian government to change its foreign policy towards Sri Lanka and called for support on a referendum to establish an independent Tamil Eelam.

Speaking at an event to mark the 114th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai earlier this month, Vaiko said that India must ensure the Sri Lankan army is moved out of the traditional Tamil homeland in the North-East.

He also called for an internationally monitored referendum on the formation of an independent Tamil Eelam state.

This is me telling you I am Tamil' - Eelam Tamil musician Pritt on music and identity

At a recent gig in London, ‘Cinnamon and Spice’, Pritt, an Eelam Tamil singer, performed alongside four female South Asian artists. Aligning with Pritt’s passions, the event aimed to celebrate underrepresented South Asian female talent and create a platform to share their music. As a part of BBC Asian Network Future Sounds in 2021, Pritt uses her platform to celebrate Tamil music and encourage artists in the UK and worldwide, particularly supporting underrepresented musicians.

‘Sri Lanka must be referred to the ICC’ – CV Wigneswaran speaks with Tamil Guardian

Amidst the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council session, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootan (TMTK), CV Wigneswaran, spoke with Tamil Guardian on issues of devolution, the 13th amendment, the weaknesses of the UNHRC resolution, and the need for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

A year later… local council chairman cleared over Maaveerar Naal commemoration

Almost a year after initially being summoned, Valikamam East Divisional Council chairman Thiyagaraja Nirosh has been acquitted over Maaveerar Naal commemorations, as Sri Lankan authorities cracked down on commemoration events across the North-East.

Nirosh and his deputy Kapilan were ordered to appear at Mallakam District Court last year after the police sought a court order to ban any memorial events from taking place.

They were initially charged with violating coronavirus prevention laws.

Natchathiram Nagargirathu: A determined march towards utopia

It has been a decade since Pa Ranjith debuted with his film ‘Attakathi’, a seemingly simple rom-com following the life of a hopeless romantic. Since then, Pa Ranjith has been one of a handful of directors responsible for revolutionising Tamil cinema and subverting the discourse surrounding caste, with his groundbreaking films ‘Madras’, ‘Kabali’ and ‘Kaala’. Last year’s ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’ garnered much acclaim despite being released on streaming services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ranjith seems to have come full circle with his latest release ‘Natchathiram Nagargirathu’, as he returns to the subject of love. Through this, we witness the extent of his development as a filmmaker. The politics of love were hidden in the background of ‘Attakathi’, whereas in ‘NN’, Ranjith brings all the guts and glory of love to the forefront.