Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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…

TNPF leader calls out attempt to alter the demography of the Tamil homeland

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, chief of the Tamil National People’s Front, accused the Sri Lankan government of pursuing a plot to alter the demography of the Tamil homeland by confiscating Tamil lands and redrawing the borders of the North-East.  

Speaking in the parliament during a discussion on the Retirement Age Bill, Ponnambalam said that “Lands belonging to Tamils have been deliberately appropriated from them for generations by the army and the government.”

Sri Lanka closes its only oil refinery amidst  foreign exchange crisis

Sri Lanka's Energy Minister,  Udaya Prabath Gammanpila, has denied concerns that the country will face fuel shortages as he announced that the island's only oil refinery, the Sapugaskanda refinery, would remain closed for 50 days.

Default risk looms: Sri Lanka's finance minister pledges to pay back loans despite dwindling foreign reserves

Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has stated that loan payments in excess of USD $1.5 billion dollars due next year will be paid and that "there is no need to worry", despite low foreign reserves and a slashed credit rating but acknowledged economic turmoil will persist through 2022.

‘We are not protesting for compensation, we are protesting for justice’ - Tamil families of the disappeared react to Sri Lanka's budget

The families of forcibly disappeared Tamils have reacted to the recent announcement that 300 million rupees from Sri Lanka's national budget will be allocated “to do justice” to the families.

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Division continues to target Kilinochchi council chair

The Sri Lankan Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) summoned Pachchilapalli council chair, Subramaniam Suren for questioning on November 17.

Suren was previously interrogated in August along with several other Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Pradeshiya Sabha members in Kilinochchi and Colombo. 

Mullaitivu locals protest rising prices of essential goods

Mullaitivu locals joined staged demonstrations across Puthukkudiyiruppu on Saturday against the rising prices of gas, sugar, cement, and fertilizers in the country.

Protesters held posters and chanted slogans demanding the Sri Lankan government, “not steal our money! [...] not hurt the hungry! [...] not sell our country!” as they marched to the Pradeshiya Sabha office pulling an ox cart loaded with empty gas cylinders. 

University of Colombo Teachers reject Rajapaksa’s appointment of a Sinhala Buddhist Monk as Chancellor

In a statement, the University of Colombo’s Science Teachers’ Association (UCSTA) expressed that they are “greatly perturbed by the recent appointment of Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero to the post of the Chancellor of the University of Colombo.”

The UCSTA highlighted that “even though the Chancellor’s role is mostly ceremonial, the person who holds the position ideally should have a track record of flawless professional and personal integrity, whose reputation and credentials will assist the University in furthering its reputation and credibility nationally and internationally,”

Chinese company seeks millions of dollars in damages from Sri Lanka in fertiliser dispute

A Chinese company is seeking damages from the Sri Lankan government for failing to make payments for a shipment of organic fertiliser.

Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd. wants $8 million as compensation from the National Plant Quarantine Service for losses and damages to its reputation or the agency faces legal action, according to a letter of demand seen by Bloomberg News. 

Tamils allege rise in drugs across North-East facilitated by Sri Lankan state

A rise in illegal activities across the Mullaitivu district is said to be facilitated by Sri Lankan police and other state forces, Tamil locals allege. 

Forensic evidence of torture found on murdered Tamil youth

A second autopsy on a Tamil youth from Batticaloa who was "beaten to death" by Sri Lankan police, has reportedly revealed signs of torture according to lawyers for the murdered man’s family.

22-year old Chandran Vithusan was tied to a tree and assaulted in front of his family members by Sri Lankan police officers, before being taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 3rd. He was pronounced dead the following morning.

Tamil lawyer Sugas Kanagaratnam and Vithusan’s family had demanded a second autopsy, after an initial autopsy led by the Special Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) cited a drug overdose as the cause of death. Vithusan’s family repeatedly raised suspicions, insisting his death was a result of police brutality.