Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Governor slams Colombo obstruction of Northern development during World Bank visit

Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan has voiced frustration over persistent obstruction by Colombo-based officials, despite Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s supposed call for accelerated development in the North-East.

Sri Lanka keeps 'terrorism' ban on Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals

gazette

The Sri Lankan government has updated an extraordinary gazette that continues to ban several Tamil diaspora groups and individuals as 'terrorists'.

The new gazette includes updated designations of several individuals, claiming both these organisations and individuals support “terrorism-related activities,” extending a ban that was first introduced more than a decade ago.

Tamil families of the disappeared mark 3,007 days of protest in Mankulam

Tamil families of the disappeared held a protest in Mankulam this week, marking the 3007th consecutive day of their campaign to demand justice for their forcibly disappeared loved ones.

Why the Tamil genocide monument matters - and why we need more

Last month in Brampton, Canada, hundreds gathered as a new Tamil genocide monument was officially unveiled. It was an act of remembrance that resonated not only with the Tamil diaspora but with justice seekers across the world.

Sri Lanka’s genocide blueprint

There was a marked shift in global politics last week as states around the world, including staunch allies of Israel, began to criticise its ongoing military offensive in Gaza. It comes as a senior United Nations humanitarian official repeatedly issued a stark reminder of the international community’s failure to prevent genocide previously, pointing specifically to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan police assault Tamil journalist after he filmed suspected bribery

A Tamil journalist was assaulted by Sri Lankan police officers in Mannar’s Periyamadu area on 31 May 2024, after he allegedly witnessed and recorded a suspicious transaction involving Sri Lankan police officers and an individual known for producing illicit liquor.

44th anniversary of Jaffna Library's burning commemorated

The 44th anniversary of the burning of the Jaffna Public Library was held at the institute on Sunday, with staff and members of the public gathering to remember its destruction by a racist Sri Lankan mob.

History in flames: Remembering the burning of Jaffna Library

At midnight on May 31, 1981, the Jaffna Public Library, the crucible of Tamil literature and heritage, was set ablaze by Sri Lankan security forces and state-sponsored mobs. The burning has since been marked by Eelam Tamils as an act of genocide.

UN Human Rights chief to visit Sri Lanka amid ongoing concerns over repressive laws

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is set to visit Sri Lanka later this month or in early July, amid ongoing international concern over the Colombo's use of repressive legislation and lack of accountability for mass atrocities.

Sri Lankan Defence Ministry considers pension aid for ex-soldiers fighting in Russia-Ukraine

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence held a meeting this week to discuss ongoing concerns around retired Sri Lankan soldiers who are going to fight in Russia and Ukraine, as they continue to struggle economically in the wake of the island’s financial crisis.