Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The LGBTQIA+ community in Jaffna held their fifth annual Pride Walk, under the theme  “We Exist For Each Other".  The walk, organised by the Jaffna Transgender Network, began outside the iconic Jaffna Public Library and proceeded along Hospital Road and Pannai Road before ending at Jaffna Fort.  Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, human rights activists, civil society…

Premier Singh not attending CHOGM – Indian press reports

Indian media reports say Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has will not attend the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka next week.

India will be represented by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Isaipriya's fate was previously unknown to her family

The family of Tamil journalist Isaipriya had known nothing of her capture and execution until video evidence was broadcast on Channel 4.

Isaipriya's mother and two sisters, had only recently arrived seeking asylum in the UK. Her mother told Channel 4 that she had always thought that Isaipriya had died a victim of shelling.

See full interview on Jonathan Miller's blog.

Commonwealth will help Sri Lanka investigate torture


The Commonwealth Secratariat will help Sri Lanka set up a National Inquiry on Torture, Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma told the Hindu.

The inquiry, to be set up under the 'Sri Lanka National Human Rights Commission', will reportedly investigate all allegations of torture commited by state agents from 2009 to the present and will take 18 months to complete its work.

Jaffna University will be closed for Tamil Remembrance Day - report

Students of Jaffna University have been told to go home after notices were posted on the premises, saying that it will be closed until December 2, according to Colombo Gazette.

Tamils still face rape and torture in Sri Lanka's 'Unfinished War' - BBC reports

A new report by the BBC revealed further evidence of the rape and torture of Tamils in Sri Lanka today.

The thirty minute documentary, ‘Sri Lanka’s Unfinished War’ exhibited witness statements of men and women that alleged to have faced rape and torture by the Sri Lankan forces as recently as August 2013.

‘They will definitely torture me and kill me’

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Tamil torture victims recalled their experience at the hands of the Sri Lankan state and warned against sending Tamils back to the island.

Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to attend CHOGM, one of the men, who could not be identified for security reasons said,

“I deeply regret [the British Prime Minister’s] decision to visit Sri Lanka at this juncture”.

He went on to say,

Corrupted Journalism'- Sri Lanka on heightening evidence of crimes against humanity

As part of an ‘Engage Sri Lanka’ campaign, the Sri Lankan government will hand out a 222 page book to brief journalists attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo.

Channel 4 respond to Sri Lanka's 'Corrupted Journalism' booklet

The Channel 4 News Editor Ben de Pear,  today provided a detailed response to Sri Lanka’s ‘Corrupted Journalism’ booklet, which looked to discredit the work of Channel 4 News.

Extracts of his written statement are reproduced below:

World will need to provide an independent investigation if Sri Lanka fails to deliver - David Cameron

In a statement released after watching the documentary No Fire Zone, British Premier, David Cameron reiterated the need for an independent investigation into the killing of Tamil civilians.

 Full statement reproduced below.

Hunger striker continues to call for CHOGM boycott



Tamil protestor Parameswaran, who has been hunger striking outside Number 10 Downing Street, has continued to call on British Prime Minister David Cameron to boycott the upcoming CHOGM, due to be held in Colombo later this month.

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian Parameswaran said,
"The main aim is to stop Cameron from participating in the CHOGM and call for him to boycott it."
Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to remain steadfast in attending CHOGM, Parameswaran said,
"Even after meeting with Tamil representatives, he has refused to listen to British Tamil voices."