Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

37 years on, Annai Poopathy’s resistance continues to inspire
Tamils across the North-East commemorated Annai Poopathy on Saturday, marking 37 years since her hunger strike unto death, in protest of atrocities committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF). Poopathy Kanapathipillai, affectionately known as Annai Poopathy (Mother Poopathy), began her hunger strike on March 19, 1988 in Batticaloa, calling for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks…

Those old rascals again...

Sep 6, 2013
Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris, told a seminar that the LTTE was to blame for ‘misinformation’ about the role of the army in the Northeast, which even the UN had bought into.

Peiris

The Sunday Leader quotes Peiris as saying:

Political forces that cannot understand Tamil aspirations must not mislead the south' - Sampanthan

Sep 6, 2013

The Tamil National Alliance, leader R. Sampanthan, implored southern political actors to refrain from maliciously criticising the TNA’s, recently released, electoral statement.

 Sampanthan reiterated that the TNA did not have any intention to harm the integrity of the country, stating,

Sri Lanka top source for Freedom from Torture referrals

Sep 5, 2013

The British based NGO Freedom from Torture has revealed that Sri Lanka was the top country of origin for those referred to the organisation for clinical services.

In a statement on its website, the group said that its annual review showed that out of 1,301 people, 228 were from Sri Lanka, with the vast majority being Tamil. The individuals were referred to the group by concerned GPs or solicitors dealing with their asylum applications.

Gota angers Muslim allies

Sep 5, 2013
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Colombo diocese says Pope will visit Sri Lanka

Sep 5, 2013

The spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Father Benedict Joseph has said that Pope Francis will visit Sri Lanka.

State radio SLBC claimed that the dates will be announced soon.

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse extended an invitation to Pope Francis last month.

Tamil Nadu activists speak out: Save Tamils Movement

Sep 4, 2013
As part of our series - 'Tamil Nadu activists speak out' - on the growing activism in Tamil Nadu on the Eelam Tamil issue, Tamil Guardian caught up with leading activists across the state.

This week, we publish our interview with the Save Tamils Movement based in Chennai.

It is the 'democratic wish' of the Tamil Nadu state to support Eelam Tamils, with Tamils across the world supporting a free Eelam, stated the Save Tamils Movement, in an interview with Tamil Guardian.

UN ‘fully supports’ Navi Pillay’s work on Sri Lanka

Sep 4, 2013

A UN spokesperson has stressed that the work done by Navi Pillay while she was in Sri Lanka has the full support of the United Nations.

Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, was responding to a question about the intimidation of witnesses that spoke to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, during a press briefing.

Eelam Tamil man self-immolates outside UNHRC in Geneva

Sep 4, 2013
A 34 year old Eelam Tamil man, residing in Switzerland, self-immolated outside the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The man is believed to be Senthilkumaran Ratnasingham, a father of 3 children, who is said to have been living there since the age of 14.

According to reports, he was taken to hospital, but died of his burned shortly afterwards.

Brother of senior LTTE commander Balraj, dies in prison

Sep 4, 2013
The brother of the senior LTTE commander Brigadier Balraj, has died in Welikada prison, according to reports in the Sri Lankan press.

The DailyMirror.lk reports he died 'due to a cardiac arrest on September 2nd, however, this cannot be verified.

Sri Lanka calls for impartial investigation into Syria attack

Sep 3, 2013

The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry has released a statement expressing concern over the “alleged use of chemical weapons” in Syria.

The statement calls for an “impartial and professional investigation” into the allegations and says the Sri Lankan government “abhors the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons”.

See full statement below:

Political forces that cannot understand Tamil aspirations must not mislead the south' - Sampanthan
Sri Lanka top source for Freedom from Torture referrals
Gota angers Muslim allies
Colombo diocese says Pope will visit Sri Lanka
Tamil Nadu activists speak out: Save Tamils Movement
UN ‘fully supports’ Navi Pillay’s work on Sri Lanka
Eelam Tamil man self-immolates outside UNHRC in Geneva
Brother of senior LTTE commander Balraj, dies in prison
Sri Lanka calls for impartial investigation into Syria attack
Pillay will compile a false report - NFF
Political forces that cannot understand Tamil aspirations must not mislead the south' - Sampanthan
Sri Lanka top source for Freedom from Torture referrals
Gota angers Muslim allies
Colombo diocese says Pope will visit Sri Lanka
Tamil Nadu activists speak out: Save Tamils Movement
UN ‘fully supports’ Navi Pillay’s work on Sri Lanka
Eelam Tamil man self-immolates outside UNHRC in Geneva
Brother of senior LTTE commander Balraj, dies in prison
Sri Lanka calls for impartial investigation into Syria attack
Pillay will compile a false report - NFF