Tamil Affairs

Military Governance in Post-War Sri Lanka: Revisiting the Logic of Downsizing

Jul 17

More than a decade after Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009, the country still maintains one of the world’s largest standing armies. This enduring militarisation cannot be explained by conventional security needs or fiscal prudence. Sri Lanka is an island with no land borders and faces no significant external military threat, yet its Army remains bloated. Why?

Black July commemoration in Jaffna to demand justice for Tamil political prisoners

‘Black July’ commemoration in Jaffna to demand justice and freedom for Tamil political prisoners

Mannar priest warns of mass protests over land rights violations and wind turbine expansion

Fr Marcus Adigalar, Chairperson of the Mannar Citizens’ Committee, has issued a strong warning to the Sri Lankan government, cautioning that large-scale protests will erupt if authorities fail to intervene and uphold the fundamental rights of local Tamil communities.

Solidarity means more than placards

Amid the many protests that have taken place in Colombo denouncing Israel’s genocide in Gaza, one placard stood out this month. It read “From Chemmani to Gaza – the earth remembers what states bury.”

UK trade reforms boost Sri Lankan garment exports despite lack of rights conditions

The United Kingdom has announced a package of trade reforms that will further liberalise garment imports from Sri Lanka under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), sparking concern from rights advocates over the continued absence of any human rights conditions tied to such trade preferences.

Jaffna Hindu College marks 25th tribute to murdered Tamil student

A blood donation drive was held at Jaffna Hindu College on 13 July in memory of Sanjeevan, a former student who was killed by the Sri Lankan military on 13 July 2000 in Kaladdy. This year marks the 25th anniversary of his death.

‘Justice will not be served without international investigation’ – ITAK MP Shanakiyan

Speaking in Parliament this week, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam issued a call for the immediate establishment of an international investigation mechanism into human rights violations in Sri Lanka, warning that domestic structures were neither impartial nor capable of delivering justice.

US may terminate global war crimes accountability funding, including in Sri Lanka

The White House has recommended ending US funding for nearly two dozen programmes that support war crimes investigations and accountability efforts globally, including in Sri Lanka, according to a report in Reuters last month.

Mannar Tamils block water testing for proposed mineral sand excavation

Residents of Pesalai North in Mannar turned away officials from the Sri Lankan Water Resources Board on 15 July, preventing them from conducting water testing linked to a proposed mineral sand excavation project in the area.

Remains of Tamil girl found with blue school bag and toy at Chemmani mass grave

The skeletal remains of a young girl, discovered with a blue school bag and toy, have been formally identified as part of ongoing excavations at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court heard on 15 July.

Foundation stone laid for Anton Balasingham statue in Paris

A commemorative event was held in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, on 12 July 2025 to mark the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a statue of Dr Anton Balasingham, the former political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and a central figure in the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle.

‘We want our land’ – Trincomalee residents protest land allocation to outsiders

Trincomalee residents protest land lease to outsiders near kanniya temple

TID summons Tamil activist over 2023 attack on Thileepan commemoration

Tamil activist Sinthujan summoned by TID over 2023 Thileepan commemoration attack while perpetrators remain unpunished

Court extends order halting winding-up of SriLankan Airlines amid $209 million bond dispute

A Sri Lankan court has extended an enjoining order until 30 July, temporarily preventing the winding-up of SriLankan Airlines over its failure to repay a defaulted bond worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

SJB Northern Organiser calls for international probe into Chemmani mass grave

Umaachandra Prakash, the Northern Provincial Organiser of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and a member of the Colombo Municipal Council, has called for an international investigation into the Chemmani mass grave, where dozens of human skeletal remains have recently been unearthed in Jaffna.

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