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…

Memorial held in Kilinochchi for Tamil journalist Pragas Gnanapragasam

(Photograph courtesy of @Kavinthans

The Kilinochchi Media Forum held a memorial for 26 year old journalist Pragas Gnanapragasam who died earlier this week after contracting coronavirus. 

Sri Lankan army to construct Buddhist school on Hindu temple premises

The Sri Lankan army have begun constructing a 'Dhamma school' - Buddhist religious school - inside the Bhadrakali Amman kovil premises in Trincomalee, as Sinhala colonisation of the North-East continues. 

Earlier this year, the Sri Lankan government announced that Rs 22 million had been allocated for the development of Dhamma schools in the North-East. 

Sri Lankan journalist brutalised by police for ‘not wearing mask’

Sri Lankan police in Akkaraipattu, Ampara, blindfolded and beat freelance journalist Shahir Khan Farook and his brother for reportedly not wearing masks.

‘Sri Lanka must grant Tamils the freedom they have demand for over 70 years’ - C.V Wigneswaran

Addressing the issue of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka, Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) leader C.V. Wigneswaran maintained that there also be a settlement of Tamil political problem, providing self-governance to the North and East.

Jaffna Press Club vows to follow in the path of deceased journalist

Jaffna Press Club has pledged to “follow in the path” of Pragas Gnanapragasam, a 26-year old Tamil journalist who died on Thursday, and work towards realising his dreams. In a condolence statement, the Club paid tribute to Gnanapragasam and the integrity of his journalism. 

‘It’s been 12 years, when will my father come back?’ – Daughter of forcibly disappeared ex-LTTE member

The daughter of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) member who was forcibly disappeared during the end of the armed conflict, speaks to Tamil Guardian about how difficult it has been to live without her father for the past 12 years. 

Sri Lankan government denies food shortage

Following the imposition of emergency regulations and skyrocketing food prices, Sri Lanka’s director of information denied that the country was facing a food shortage claiming that “there is no basis to these reports”.

The statement comes as Sri Lanka’s private banks have run out of foreign exchange reserves to finance imports and as the country has seen shortages in items such as milk powder, kerosene oil and cooking gas.

Scottish MP demands answers for Police Scotland’s training of Sri Lankan officers

Member of Scottish Parliament, Mercedes Villalba, has demanded that the Scottish government provide full details of the activities offered by the International Development and Innovation Unit following calls for Police Scotland to end its training programme with Sri Lanka.

Sajith Premadasa seeks presidential pardon for former UNP MP

Sri Lankan opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, is seeking a presidential pardon to release former United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian, Ranjan Ramanayake. 

Ramanayake’s seat in Parliament was suspended in January 2020 following alleged statements he had made against Buddhism and Buddhist monks. He was also accused of conspiring to assassinate Sri Lankan government minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, along with former prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lankan army expands recruitment in Jaffna as militarisation intensifies

Recruits

More than 300 new Sri Lankan army recruits completed a four-month training programme at the Battalion Training School (BTS) in Vidaththalpalai, Jaffna, becoming the first batch of recruits to pass out in Jaffna as militarisation of the Tamil homeland intensifies.