Occupation Watch - 19 June, 2025

Tamil Affairs Jun 19

Between May and June 2025, the Sri Lankan military intensified its presence in the Tamil homeland through environmental projects, medical camps, and even a sports tournaments in Mannar. Marketed as religious festivals, humanitarian aid, and school donations, these activities - conducted by units implicated in past war crimes - serve to entrench Sinhalese dominance and normalise military occupation in the everyday life of Tamil civilians.

Jaffna

Jaffna University Teachers urge uninterrupted exhumation of Chemmani mass grave
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Jaffna University Teachers’ Association urges uninterrupted exhumation of Chemmani mass graves and calls for justice for the disappeared
Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister dismisses concerns of more mass graves as ‘hearsay’
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has controversially dismissed longstanding concerns of further mass graves across the Tamil homeland as mere “hearsay” this week.
TELO leader Adaikkalanathan warns of protests over naval land grab in Mannar
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
TELO leader and Vanni District parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanathan has issued a sharp warning against attempts by the Sri Lankan Navy to appropriate Tamil-owned land in Mannar, declaring that “we will never allow the lands belonging to the people to be seized under the pretext of establishing a naval camp.”
Sri Lankan military occupation leaves unpaid electricity bill
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Nearly three decades after occupying the headquarters of the Achchuveli Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Valikamam East, the Sri Lankan military has returned the building to its rightful owners - but not without leaving behind unresolved financial burdens.
Sri Lankan military grants access to Palaly temple – but Tamils remain in limbo
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Following decades of military occupation, the Sri Raja Rajeswary Amman Temple in Palaly East has finally been opened for public worship.
DTNA secures both Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in Vavuniya
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Sundaralingam Kandeepan and Parameshwaran Kartheepan of DTNA elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Vavuniya by a narrow one-vote margin.
Sri Lanka's central bank overstates foreign reserve by USD $1.4bn
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Sri Lanka's foreign reserves have been overstated by USD $1.4 billion in central bank reporting due to the inclusion of a currency swap from China that does not meet international standards.
India extends financial assistance for ferry service to Tamil Eelam
Tamil Affairs Jun 19

India sri lanka

The Indian government has announced the extension of its financial assistance for another year to support the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai in Tamil Eelam and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lankans in Israel injured in Iranian missile attacks
Tamil Affairs Jun 19
Several Sri Lankans have been injured by Iranian missile attacks confirmed Colombo, as it temporarily halted the dispatch of workers to Israel.
Subscribe to

Most-Read Articles

Senior Buddhist monk from Anuradhapura remanded over sexual abuse of minor
A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and chief prelate of the Anuradhapura Atamasthana,…
17 years today - A massacre in Mullivaikkal
To mark 17 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens…
Velupillay makes history as first Tamil at a FIFA World Cup
Photograph: @Socceroos Nishan Velupillay has been selected in Australia's squad…
In Pictures - Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorated in Mullivaikkal
All photographs by Uthayarasa Shalin Thousands of Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal…
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay marks Mullivaikkal remembrance with pledge to support Eelam Tamils
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay issued a message on Monday evening marking…