Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday approved a further extension of the country's state of public emergency, with all seven votes against the measure cast by Tamil Members of Parliament. The motion was passed by 135 votes in favour and seven against, a majority of 128. The seven MPs who opposed the extension were Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Sivagnanam Shritharan, K. Kodeeswaran, G. Srineshan, T.…

Jaffna university students mark first day of Mullivaikkal remembrance week

Students and staff at University of Jaffna marked the first day of Mullivaikkal remembrance week by laying flowers and lighting candles at the university's monument. 

The Mullivaikkal memorial monument at the University of Jaffna was rebulilt in April last year after authorities destroyed it earlier in the year. 

Mullivaikkal Kanji – A moment in history

The Association of Relatives of Enforced Disappearances in the North and East have joined other organisations across the Tamil homeland in distributing Mullivaikkal Kanji to commemorate Tamil Genocide Week today.

See a statement from them, explaining why they distribute kanji -  a porridge of rice and water -  below.

 

MULLIVAIKKAL KANJI

May 12 to 18

Sri Lanka spent 30 times more than Prabhakaran, just to commit genocide – TNPF MP

The Sri Lankan government spent billions to commit genocide, said Tamil National People’s Front lawmaker S Kajendran in parliament earlier this month, stating that funds from the two million-strong Tamil diaspora could allow the whole island to flourish if the state was willing to accept Tamil nationhood.

Flame lit at Nandikadal lagoon to mark beginning of Mullivaikkal remembrance week

A flame was lit at Nandikadal lagoon today to mark the beginning of Mullivaikkal remembrance week. 

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) activist Peter IIlancheliyan lit the flame and sprinkled flowers at the lagoon, where thousands of Tamils were subjected to heavy Sri Lankan military bombardment.

We have orders to shoot' - Sri Lankan police threaten Tamils gathering in Mullaitivu

As Tamils gather across the North-East to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred in Mullivaikkal, footage has emerged of Sri laankan police threatening to shoot those gathering in Mullaitivu earlier today.

The police are filmed stating:

This is Mullaitivu police announcement.

The return of Ranil Wickremesinghe - Sri Lanka appoints a new prime minister

Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister today before Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Wickremesinghe has served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2015, 2015 to 2018, and 2018 to 2019. With this announcement, Tamil Guardian takes a look back at the veteran United National Party (UNP) leader who has become Sri Lanka's Prime Minister for the 6th time with just one seat in Parliament.

Sri Lankan court imposes travel ban on Mahinda Rajapaksa and allies

Sri Lankan prime minister refused to meet Pompeo | Tamil Guardian

Sri Lanka's Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a travel ban on former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and several others this morning, reportedly as part of investigations into the violence against anti-government protestors that took place earlier this week.

Amongst those restricted from leaving the island are Rajapaksa’s son and former minister Namal, as well as other key allies including Jonston Fernando.

Kanji served in the North-East as Mullivaikkal remembrance week begins

Tamils across the North-East marked the first day of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week by boiling and serving kanji to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan state 13 years ago.

Kanji - a porridge of rice and water - was the only food available to Tamils trapped in the Sri Lankan government declared 'No Fire Zones' as food, medicines and other necessities were heavily restricted from entering the Vanni during the final phase of the armed conflict. 

The Sri Lankan government denied the delivery of food into the conflict zones, to use starvation as a weapon of war. Even as Tamils stood in long queues to get a bowl of kanji, the Sri Lankan military continued their daily bombardment, slaughtering many. 

UN Secretary General calls for 'dialogue' to deal with Sri Lanka's growing crisis

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has encouraged Sri Lankan stakeholders  to "find a solution to the current challenges through dialogue" as the island continues to grapple with a growing crisis. 

‘I won’t step down, I will save you’ – Rajapaksa refuses to quit as Sri Lanka's president

In a special address to the country, embattled Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, refused to step down insisting that would appoint a new Prime Minister and cabinet this week.