Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Residents of Kepapilavu in Mullaitivu District launched a hunger strike on Wednesday, demanding the release of 171 acres of ancestral land that remain under the occupation of the Sri Lankan military more than 17 years after the end of the armed conflict. The protest was held outside the Sri Lanka Army's 59 Division headquarters, where demonstrators reiterated their longstanding demand for…

Sri Lanka’s archaeology department acquires ‘ancient monastery site’ in Jaffna

Sri Lanka’s archaeology department has issued a gazette acquiring an acre of land in Neduntheevu (Delft island) in Jaffna, claiming that it contains a ruined Buddhist monastery complex.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, the land was declared an “archaeological reserve” under the Antiquities Ordinance Act.

UK ‘firmly believes’ UN resolutions on Sri Lanka ‘remain the best framework’

Britain’s minister of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said his government maintains that UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions on Sri Lanka “remain the best framework for establishing truth and achieving justice and lasting reconciliation following the conflict in Sri Lanka”.

British police order removal of Tamil Eelam flag and LTTE leader's picture in London

British police have reportedly ordered the removal of the Tamil Eelam national flag and a photograph of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran from a supermarket in Wembley, London.

University of Toronto Tamil Chair grows closer to ground breaking goal

UofT signing agreement with Toronto Tamil Chair Team

The University of Toronto (UofT) has agreed to establish a ground breaking Tamil Chair, after signing an agreement with the Tamil Congress and Tamil Chair Inc. in 2018. The Chair  has received an outpour of community support and will be first of its kind in Canada.

Tamil asylum-seeking family detained on Christmas Island for 1000 days

A Tamil asylum-seeking family have been detained on Christmas Island for 1000 days and continue to face deportation to Sri Lanka. 

Maaveerar Naal commemorated across Switzerland

Tamils in Switzerland marked Maaveerar Naal on Firday, with a series of commemorations from across the country.

See photographs from various events below.

Zurich

Eight inmates killed at Mahara Prison after Sri Lankan guards open fire

A fire broke out on saturday at the Mahara Prison, after Sri Lankan officers opened fire in a reported attempt to control a riot in the prison. At least eight inmates have been killed and 52 injured. 

Indian security adviser meets TNA leader to discuss development

<p>National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan last week during his visit to the island to discuss development.&nbsp;</p>

Tamils in Denmark commemorate Maaveerar Naal

Tamils in Denmark commemorated Maaveerar Naal on November 27, paying homage to those who gave their lives in the struggle for liberation. 

The event took place in Herning where Tamils lit candles and laid flowers as they paid their respects to the fallen. The event also included a series of performances. 

Our youth took up arms for self defence' - Tamil parliamentarian C V Wigneswaran

Responding to a question on Maaveerar Naal, Jaffna MP C V Wigneswaran accused Sri Lanka of committing "state terrorism" and maintained that "our youth were compelled to take up arms for the self-defense of our people".

Reflecting on the question of terrorism, Wigneswaran said that Sri Lankan "state terrorism begot victim violence". "You cannot conduct continuous pogroms against a community and expect them to accept all humiliation and violence and go about their day to day chores as if nothing has happened," he added.