Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Hundreds march in Kilinochchi against limestone, sand mining and wind turbines
A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Sri Lanka renews sweeping ban on Tamil diaspora groups in latest terror gazette

Jan 9, 2026

gazette

The Sri Lanka government has issued a new extraordinary gazette renewing and extending its long-running ban on several Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals, continuing to designate them as “terrorists”.

Who is Douglas Devananda? Inside Sri Lanka’s state-backed paramilitary figure

Jan 9, 2026
Devananda’s career spans decades of Sri Lanka’s genocide against Tamils, marked by close alignment with the state and repeated ministerial appointments, as he was shielded from accountability for grave human rights violations.

EPDP leader Douglas Devananda granted bail in firearm–underworld probe

Jan 9, 2026
Former Sri Lankan minister and leader of the paramilitary Eelam People’s Democratic Party Douglas Devananda has been granted bail by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court, following his remand in connection with an investigation into the alleged transfer of a military issued firearm to an organised criminal.

‘You are killing cinema’ – Support for Salliyargal as Eelam Tamil stories face exclusion

Jan 8, 2026
Tamil film Salliyargal has been released directly on an over-the-top streaming platform, bypassing a theatrical release, in protest against what its makers describe as systematic denial of screens for films centred on the Tamil Eelam struggle.

Murdered journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge commemorated in Batticaloa

Jan 8, 2026
Journalists in Batticaloa commemorated murdered Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge earlier today, marking 17 years since he was gunned down in Colombo, amid renewed outrage over the state’s refusal to deliver justice.

British-Tamil football player speaks on her success at the Deaflympics

Jan 8, 2026
Tharanika Ahillan

Lucindha Lawson, a British-Tamil deaf football player from London, who won Bronze at the 2025 Deaflympics spoke to the Tamil Guardian about her medal winning journey.

The 34-year-old brought home the medal from Tokyo last month as part of the Great Britain (GB) Deaf Women’s Football team. 

From drones to court cases: Sri Lanka’s surveillance grow against Tamil protesters in Thaiyiddy

Jan 8, 2026
Sri Lankan police recorded the personal and vehicle details of Tamils attending the monthly protest against the military-backed Thaiyiddy vihara on Wednesday, raising fresh fears of surveillance and future crackdowns against those opposing the occupation of Tamil-owned land.

Tamil temple still denied land and access as governor urged to intervene

Jan 8, 2026
Vanni District Member of Parliament P. Sathiyalingam has called on the Governor of the Northern Province N. Vedhanayagan to take immediate steps to release the land and access road belonging to the historic Veddukkunaari Malai Adi Lingeswarar Temple, amid continuing restrictions on Tamil religious practice in the region.

British Tamils protest at Downing Street to condemn Sri Lanka’s arrests

Jan 8, 2026
A protest was held in Britain last week condemning the arrest of five Tamils, including religious leader Velan Swamigal, during protests against the illegal construction of a Buddhist vihara at Thaiyiddy in the Tamil homeland.

TNPF commemorate Kumar Ponnambalam 26 years on

Jan 6, 2026

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) remembered assassinated human rights lawyer and former leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar Ponnambalam yesterday. 

Ponnambalam was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on January 5th, 2000, whilst in his car on Ramakrishna Lane, in Wellawette, Colombo. The murder came a few days after he had written an open letter to then president Chandrika Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga, condemning her anti-Tamil policies.

Sri Lanka renews sweeping ban on Tamil diaspora groups in latest terror gazette
Who is Douglas Devananda? Inside Sri Lanka’s state-backed paramilitary figure
EPDP leader Douglas Devananda granted bail in firearm–underworld probe
‘You are killing cinema’ – Support for Salliyargal as Eelam Tamil stories face exclusion
Murdered journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge commemorated in Batticaloa
British-Tamil football player speaks on her success at the Deaflympics
From drones to court cases: Sri Lanka’s surveillance grow against Tamil protesters in Thaiyiddy
Tamil temple still denied land and access as governor urged to intervene
British Tamils protest at Downing Street to condemn Sri Lanka’s arrests
TNPF commemorate Kumar Ponnambalam 26 years on
Sri Lanka renews sweeping ban on Tamil diaspora groups in latest terror gazette
Who is Douglas Devananda? Inside Sri Lanka’s state-backed paramilitary figure
EPDP leader Douglas Devananda granted bail in firearm–underworld probe
‘You are killing cinema’ – Support for Salliyargal as Eelam Tamil stories face exclusion
Murdered journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge commemorated in Batticaloa
British-Tamil football player speaks on her success at the Deaflympics
From drones to court cases: Sri Lanka’s surveillance grow against Tamil protesters in Thaiyiddy
Tamil temple still denied land and access as governor urged to intervene
British Tamils protest at Downing Street to condemn Sri Lanka’s arrests
TNPF commemorate Kumar Ponnambalam 26 years on