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…

Joint letter from human rights organisations demands urgent international action on Sri Lanka

In a joint letter from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, International Commission of Jurists and Forum Asia, has stressed that the UNHRC should adopt a strong resolution on end a pervasive culture of impunity and bring justice to victim communities.

India raises alarm over lack of progress and reiterates calls for 13th amendment

During the 51st session of the Indian delegation expressed their concern over the lack of “measurable progress” on the Sri Lankan government’s “commitments of a political solution to the ethnic issue.”

The Indian delegation called on Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment, delegate powers to the provincial councils and hold elections for the provincial councils.

Accountability must go beyond the UNHRC' - Jaffna Mayor speaks to Tamil Guardian

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Jaffna Mayor V Mannivannan called for a "strong" resolution that either refers Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or mandates a special court to investigate Sri Lanka's human rights violations against the Tamil nation. 

China, Russia, Iran and North Korea – A coterie of rogue states rush to defend Sri Lanka

During the first day of the 51st session of the UNHRC council, a coterie of rogue states including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea rushed to Sri Lanka’s defence, touting the country’s alleged progress on human rights and asserting their opposition to UN resolution 46/1.

“We have no desire to dramatize the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka” claimed the Russian ambassador.

‘A persistent culture of impunity’ – Western governments slam Sri Lanka’s human rights record

During the 51st session of the UNHRC, western governments responded to a damning report by the UN High Commissioner, which revealed the “active reversal” of progress on accountability, and voiced alarm over Sri Lanka’s “persistent culture of impunity” and deepening militarisation.

UN Resolution violates 'sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka' - Foreign Minister tells UNHRC

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said the government "fundamentally" disagreed with the legitimacy of the UN Resolution 46/1 and claimed that the resolution violates the "sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka" as the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened this morning. 

TNA urges USAID Administrator to push for accountability in Sri Lanka

While speaking with the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) emphasized the need to push for accountability in Sri Lanka.

On 11 September USAID Administrator, Samantha Power, sat down with representatives of opposition parties in Sri Lanka to discuss Sri Lankan governance.

Tamil families visit relatives languishing in prison on Prisoners' Day

Tamil families from Jaffna arrived in Colombo today to visit their relatives who have been languishing for years in Welikada and Magazine prisons. 

The families set off from Jaffna Press Club yesterday afternoon to bring international attention to the plight of Tamil political prisoners on National Prisoners' Day. 

Repeal the PTA: Island-wide signature campaign begins in Jaffna

Signatures calling for the repeal of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were collected in Jaffna this morning after a campaign was launched yesterday. 

The campaign initiated by the Ilankai Thamilarasu Katchi Youth Wing, Justice for All and the Alliance of Trade Union & MassYouth Front organisations, demands the Sri Lankan government to repeal the notorious legislation which has been used disproportionately to detain and torture Tamils and Muslims.

Hunger strike continues as Tamil political prisoners demand release

The hunger strike of 12 Tamil political prisoners, who were detained between 2019 and 2020, has entered its 5th day as those imprisoned continued to demand for their release.