Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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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…

IndustriALL affiliates make appeal to cancel Sri Lanka’s debt

IndustriALL affiliates in Sri Lanka are demanding that the island's debts are canceled. 

IndustriALL is a global union representing 50 million workers across 140 countries in mining, manufacturing, and energy sectors. 

Recently, Sri Lankan IndustriALL affiliates echoed the calls of over 180 economists and development experts to cancel Sri Lanka's debt.

Maatu Pongal celebrated in Jaffna

Maatu Pongal, a festival to give thanks to cattle for allowing farmers to cultivate and harvest their crops, was celebrated in Jaffna today. 

To mark the festival, cows were garlanded and fed pongal at Gnanavairavar temple and Tirunelveli market in Jaffna.

Canadian Prime minister celebrates Tamil heritage month in Thai Pongal message

Justin Trudeau marked Tamil Heritage month in his Thai Pongal message, celebrating the contribution of Tamil Canadians.

Last week Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly announced targeted sanctions against Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as Sunil Ratnayake and Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi for “gross and systematic violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka”.

Remembering Colonel Kittu 30 years on

Today marks 30 years since the death of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, who committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

Col. Kittu and nine LTTE cadres remembered in Mullaitivu

The 30th anniversary of the deaths of Colonel Kittu (Sathasivam Krishnakumar) and nine other LTTE cadres was marked in Mullaitivu.

The inaugural lamp was lit by Theresamma, the mother of two Maaveerar. Following this, the sacrificial lamp was then lit by the mother of Maaveerar Kanikodi.

Change of Presidents of Sri Lanka in 2022 did not lead to any improvement in the country's human rights records' - HRW

The World Report 2023 published by Human Rights Watch (HRW), details the continued repression in Sri Lanka under President Wickremesinghe.

In the 712-page World Report 2023, its 33rd edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in close to 100 countries.

South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Ganguly noted that, 

Sri Lankan police use water cannons to disperse Tamil protesters in Jaffna

Sri Lankan police used water cannons on Tamil protesters in Jaffna earlier today as they rallied against President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to the district. 

 

Jaffna-Tamil Nadu Sea Cargo service to operate from February

A weekly ferry carrying 300 metric tons of Indian products to Jaffna's Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour will begin in February. 

In recent years, the Sri Lankan government has intensified its continued militarisations and Sinhalisaiton of Kankesanthurai.

We want our loved ones, we want our land!' - Tamils protest as Sri Lankan President visits Jaffna

Tamils are protesting across Jaffna today as Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe visits the peninsula for Thai Pongal

The rally began at the University of Jaffna, with students joining the Tamil families of the disappeared as they marched towards Nallur Sivan temple where Wickremesinghe was attending a Thai Pongal event.