Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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…

HRCSL urges oversight and improved conditions for Rohingya asylum seekers in Sri Lanka

A recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has described various human rights violations in the treatment of Rohingya asylum seekers detained at the Mullaitivu Air Force Camp.  The report, titled Status of Rohingya Asylum Seekers Detained in Mullaitivu, and Related Issues, highlighted a need for humanitarian intervention, transparency in detention practices, and accountability for the Sri Lankan authorities’ handling of asylum seekers.

Kumarapuram massacre remembered 29 years on

The Kumarapuram massacre, where the Sri Lankan military killed 26 Tamils, injured 24 and gang raped a 15 year old girl in a murderous rampage 29 years ago, was commemorated today. 

The commemoration took place in the eastern village of Kumarapuram in Trincomalee, where flowers were laid and lamps were lit for the victims of the brutal massacre. 

Funds run dry for mass grave excavation in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo

Mass grave excavations at Colombo port uncover six human skeletal remains so far

China provides flood relief aid to Tamil families in North

Relief funds was distributed on February 9th and 10th to the people affected in flood in Jaffna, Mannar and Mullaithivu

Trincomalee fishermen protest against illegal dynamite fishing

On February 7th fishermen along with Ravichandran Ponnampalam demanded the ban of illegal fishing methods by holding a protest in sampur region

Sri Lanka scrambles for ‘alternatives’ as controversy over USAID funding continues

USAID

The abrupt suspension of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programme under President Donald Trump means Sri Lanka “may have to go for alternatives”, according to Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa, as controversy over the projects it funded continues.

IndiGo to launch direct flights from Bengaluru to Jaffna

India’s largest low-cost airline, IndiGo, has announced plans to introduce direct flights between Bengaluru and Jaffna.

Sri Lanka blames blackout on monkey, as experts warn of grid collapse

Sri Lanka was plunged into an island-wide blackout on Sunday at 11:30 a.m., leaving millions without electricity for over three hours

Still not our independence

Familiar scenes played out across the island last week as Sri Lanka marked 77 years since the end of British rule. In the Sinhala south, lion flags were hoisted with pride and Colombo’s streets saw yet another military parade. But in the Tamil North-East, a starkly different picture was evident once more. Black flags were raised, protests were held, and the enduring sense of alienation that Tamils have long felt on this so-called "Independence Day" was once again laid bare.