Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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‘Before we too pass away’ - Tamil families appeal to UN over Chemmani mass graves
The Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared in the North-East (ARED) has appealed to the United Nations to ensure an international investigation into enforced disappearances and mass graves across the Tamil homeland, including the ongoing excavations at Chemmani, where more than 380 human skeletal remains have been uncovered. In a letter dated 19 June 2026, the association called…

Sri Lanka collects details of Tamil diaspora - TNA MP Ariyanenthiran

Apr 12, 2014
Sri Lankan intelligence officers are actively collecting the details of the Tamil diaspora from Trincomalee, the TNA MP Ariyanenthiran told the Uthayan this week.

Using local government officials, the intelligence officers alongside the army are collecting details of those who fled after the 1983 riots, in order to prepare a new list of individuals to proscribe, said Mr. Ariyanenthiran.

Intelligence officers have decided to collect information directly from voter lists after local government officials informed them of the difficulty of obtained such information.

Not soldiers but ‘militarised civilians’ says Army

Apr 12, 2014
Writing to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times regarding a photograph published by the paper last week depicting soldiers helping to repair a roof at a Dutch hospital in Colombo, the Sri Lankan Army media spokesperson, said,

Spirit of reconciliation at New Year says President... in Sinhala

Apr 12, 2014
In an official message marking Sinhala and Tamil new year celebrations Monday, the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, pointed to the spirit of reconciliation of 'Aluth Avurudu' [Sinhala word for New Year, commonly used to refer specifically to 'Sinhala New Year'].

The message said,

Body found in Visvamadu of Tamil woman working for Army

Apr 12, 2014
17:29 BST

The body of a Tamil woman was found in a well in Visvamadu, local residents told Tamil Guardian this evening.

The body, which appeared to have been raped, was recovered by villagers in the presence of police officers at 6.30pm today.

The woman, whose name is yet unknown, was employed by the Sri Lankan army in the cultivation of toddy (palm wine) six to seven months ago said locals.

Indian firm proposes $300m ilmenite processing plant in Pulmoddai

Apr 12, 2014
An Indian firm, Narayan Titanium Industries Ltd., has proposed a US $300 million project of a titanium ore (ilmenite) processing plant in Pulmoddai, Trincomalee, the Sunday Times reported.

The plant would process the raw mineral ilmenite from Pulmoddai and Mullaitivu into the commercially lucrative pigment of Titanium Dioxide.

Discussions with South African envoy 'very fruitful' - TNA

Apr 11, 2014
The Tamil National Alliance said in a brief statement Saturday its discussions this week with the South African envoy, Cyril Ramaposa, had been "very fruitful".

"We look forward to continued engagement with the Special Envoy especially during his impending visit to Sri Lanka," TNA said.

The statement did not elaborate on the content or conclusions of the discussions in South Africa.

Arrest, detention and torture of Tamil women by security forces

Apr 11, 2014
Reports have emerged of the detention and torture of Tamil women arrested by Sri Lankan security forces who have accused the women of having 'terrorist links'.

A report, published in Groundviews said:
"Recently there are several females in Boosa. Two of them are above the age of 60. Kanapathipillai Yogarani 61 years of age was arrested in latter part of March. The only allegation against her is that her son residing in a foreign country has been sending her money periodically.

Sri Lankan regime’s attempt to silence legitimate criticism is unacceptable' - Canada's Liberal party

Apr 11, 2014
Condemning the Sri Lankan government's refusal to participate in the upcoming investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Canada's Shadow Foreign Minister, and Liberal MP for Westmount-Ville-Marie, Marc Garneau, said that the "Sri Lankan regime’s attempt to silence legitimate criticism" through the proscription of Tamil diaspora groups who were supportive of the international investigation, was "unacceptable", urging the Canadian government to consider "additional measures" if Sri Lanka did not lift the proscription.

"We also condemn attempts by the Sri Lankan government to silence organizations and individuals pressing for such an investigation– including a number of Tamil-Canadian groups based in Canada – by designating them as terrorists and threatening to freeze their assets and financial resources," said Mr. Garneau in a statement issued on Friday.

Another mother and daughter arrested by TID

Apr 11, 2014

A Tamil woman and her teenage daughter were arrested on Wednesday night, reports BBC Tamil.

Sasikaran Thavamalar, aged 42, and her 16-year-old daughter Yathurshini of Aasikulam, Vavuniya were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), becoming the most recent in a line of women and girls detained under accusations of terrorism.

Sri Lanka says troops killed ‘Gopi’, two others

Apr 10, 2014

Sri Lanka’s military said Friday troops had shot dead three men being sought for attempting to revive the LTTE, including ‘Gopi’ described as the leader.

Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the incident took place when troops surrounded them in jungle near Padaviya in the Nedunkerny area, Vavuniya.

“Three armed suspects who attempted to escape the area confronted the troops in the cordon. All three were killed,” he said in a press release.

Not soldiers but ‘militarised civilians’ says Army
Spirit of reconciliation at New Year says President... in Sinhala
Body found in Visvamadu of Tamil woman working for Army
Indian firm proposes $300m ilmenite processing plant in Pulmoddai
Discussions with South African envoy 'very fruitful' - TNA
Arrest, detention and torture of Tamil women by security forces
Sri Lankan regime’s attempt to silence legitimate criticism is unacceptable' - Canada's Liberal party
Another mother and daughter arrested by TID
Sri Lanka says troops killed ‘Gopi’, two others
Last-minute cancellation of British MPs' trip to Sri Lanka amidst controversy
Not soldiers but ‘militarised civilians’ says Army
Spirit of reconciliation at New Year says President... in Sinhala
Body found in Visvamadu of Tamil woman working for Army
Indian firm proposes $300m ilmenite processing plant in Pulmoddai
Discussions with South African envoy 'very fruitful' - TNA
Arrest, detention and torture of Tamil women by security forces
Sri Lankan regime’s attempt to silence legitimate criticism is unacceptable' - Canada's Liberal party
Another mother and daughter arrested by TID
Sri Lanka says troops killed ‘Gopi’, two others
Last-minute cancellation of British MPs' trip to Sri Lanka amidst controversy