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…

Qatar deports Tamil man to Sri Lanka after request from TID

Qatari authorities deported a Tamil man to Sri Lanka this week despite the threats of torture; where the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) arrested him for allegedly “promoting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)”. 

Tamil Nadu arrests fishermen for smuggling sea cucumbers to Sri Lanka

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has confiscated 300 kilograms of banned sea cucumbers that were to be smuggled to Sri Lanka. They have also arrested and jailed seven persons involved in the smuggling incident and seized over 24 boats worth over 2 million rupees used for smuggling. 

Due to the proximity of Rameswaram to Sri Lanka, a large number of banned sea cucumbers, including sea lizards and dolphin paddles have been smuggled across the Gulf of Mannar in recent times.

German Ambassador meets with Basil Rajapaksa despite human rights concerns

Following the appointment of Basil Rajapaksa to the position of Finance Minister, Germany’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Holger Seubert, meet with the Finance Minister despite ongoing human rights violations.

Earlier this year, Germany voted in favour of the UN resolution mandating the collection of evidence that could be used in a future war crimes trial. The resolution highlighted the deterioration of human rights in Sri Lanka and follows a scathing UN report which detailed the ongoing abuses in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Minister calls for military training for those over 18

 

Sri Lankan Minister of Public Security, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara, has called for mandatory military training for those above the age of 18, despite increasing concerns over the intensifying militarisation of the state. 

‘Ensure protection of journalists!’ - Batticaloa Tamil Journalists Association to Rajapaksa

The Batticaloa District Tamil Journalists Association has written a letter to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa demanding to ensure press freedom in the island. 

This comes following the Terrorism Investigation Department’s (TID) interrogation of Selvakumar Nilanthan, a journalist based in Batticaloa.

The subject line of the letter read, “Stop suppression of journalism! Ensure protection of journalists!!”

The letter started by explaining the circumstances of the investigation of Nilanthan. 

Canadian government grants $26.3 million for Tamil Community Centre in Toronto

The Canadian government has announced that it will grant tens of millions of dollars in funding towards the construction of a ground breaking Tamil Community Centre (TCC) in Toronto, marking a milestone in decades of committed work from local community activists.

Mullaitivu District Hospital performs first successful knee replacement surgery

Surgeons at Mullaitivu District Hospital performed the hospital's first successful knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. 

Multiple Catholic shrines damaged in Mannar

Three different Catholic shrines were found attacked this morning by unidentified persons in Mannar. 

The suspects had allegedly hurled stones at the shrines, shattering the glass shield covering the idols, according to locals.

Heavy police presence at annual Pongal celebrations in Mullaitivu

Heavy Sri Lankan police and security presence was deployed yesterday to surveil the annual Pongal festivities hosted at Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple in Semmalai, Mullaitivu. 

Switzerland donates $4 million COVID relief to Sri Lanka

The Government of Switzerland donated $4 million to Sri Lanka last month to combat the spread of the coronavirus on the island.

The relief included half a million antigen tests, 50 ventilators, 150 oxygen concentrators and testing materials.