News for 'Tamil Eelam'

Only moral support to Tamil Eelam: Vaiko

Only moral support to Tamil Eelam: Vaiko

Rediff.com8 Sep 2006

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's support to the formation of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka was only moral in nature and "to show the world that Eelam Tamils are not orphans," party leader Vaiko said on Thursday night.

 Tamil Eelam dream is still raging: Sri Lanka

Tamil Eelam dream is still raging: Sri Lanka

Rediff.com15 Feb 2010

Despite the killings of top LTTE leaders, including its chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, and the decimation of the rebels, the concept of Tamil Eelam has not died out amongst those harbouring it, the Sri Lankan Army chief has warned.

Sri Lanka fails to address sexual violence against Tamil civilians: UN

Sri Lanka fails to address sexual violence against Tamil civilians: UN

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

A UN report highlights the lack of justice for Tamil civilians who experienced sexual violence during Sri Lanka's civil war, primarily by security forces.

BJP objects to Malik's presence at pro-Tamil Eelam meet

BJP objects to Malik's presence at pro-Tamil Eelam meet

Rediff.com20 May 2013

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday objected to the presence of JKLF president Yasin Malik at a pro-Tamil Eeelam meeting by the Naam Tamizhar Katchi at Cuddalore in Chennai on Saturday.

Kerala HC grants bail to suspected LTTE member over delayed trial

Kerala HC grants bail to suspected LTTE member over delayed trial

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

The Kerala High Court granted bail to a Sri Lankan refugee suspected of being an LTTE member in a UAPA case, citing prolonged judicial custody without trial commencement.

The Man The LTTE Couldn't Kill

The Man The LTTE Couldn't Kill

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

The Tigers refused to forgive Douglas Devananda and tried to assassinate him repeatedly. He later said: "(LTTE chief Velupillai) Prabhakaran cannot kill me." Destiny proved him right.

US rights body urges Sri Lanka to prosecute war crime perpetrators

US rights body urges Sri Lanka to prosecute war crime perpetrators

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

Human Rights Watch urges Sri Lanka to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war, citing a UN report on sexual violence against Tamil civilians.

After Decades IPKF Set For Overdue Official Honour

After Decades IPKF Set For Overdue Official Honour

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

'Why are IPKF martyrs not being officially recognised and appropriately honoured? And is the government really changing its mind on this now?', asks Aditi Phadnis.

Rajiv Gandhi: 'I Can't Sack People'

Rajiv Gandhi: 'I Can't Sack People'

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

'When I met the prime minister, he asked me, "Dr Ganguly, what do you do with people in your company who lie to you?"' 'I said, "Prime Minister, we counsel them and give them a gentle warning. If they lie again, they are sacked".' '"This is my problem,'" Rajiv responded. "I can't sack people in government".' A revealing excerpt from former Hindustan Lever Chairman Dr Ashok S Ganguly's We Are Our Future: Reflections On Life.

Mark Tully Was India's Voice To The World

Mark Tully Was India's Voice To The World

Rediff.com27 Jan 2026

'Mark had such a profound understanding of India, which was, of course, the land of his birth as well as of his death... He loved India, and lived two-thirds of his life here.'

35 Years After IPKF's Return, Tamil Politics Has Changed

35 Years After IPKF's Return, Tamil Politics Has Changed

Rediff.com24 Mar 2025

Since the IPKF's withdrawal from Sri Lanka in March 1990, the LTTE's once-powerful influence in Tamil Nadu has faded.

Girl's skeleton with toys found in Jaffna mass grave

Girl's skeleton with toys found in Jaffna mass grave

Rediff.com17 Jul 2025

Skeletal remains of a young girl have been identified among human remains exhumed from a mass grave in Sri Lanka's Jaffna district, a site linked to the LTTE conflict in the mid-1990s. The discovery has renewed calls for investigation into alleged war crimes.

TN govt seeks banning 'The Family Man 2' over portrayal of Eelam Tamils

TN govt seeks banning 'The Family Man 2' over portrayal of Eelam Tamils

Rediff.com24 May 2021

Claiming there were "condemnable, inappropriate and malicious contents" in the serial, Tamil Nadu IT Minister T Mano Thangaraj said the trailer released in social media was aimed at discrediting and distorting the historical struggle of the Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka.

'Prabhakaran's Biggest Blunder Was Rajiv Gandhi's Murder'

'Prabhakaran's Biggest Blunder Was Rajiv Gandhi's Murder'

Rediff.com12 Mar 2025

'This was a decision taken and executed by Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Pottu Amman. Both were convinced that the assassination would not be linked to them.'

Eelam is my unfulfilled dream, says Karunanidhi

Eelam is my unfulfilled dream, says Karunanidhi

Rediff.com13 Aug 2012

Brushing aside the Centre's reservations, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Sunday declared that he will strive for a separate Eelam. He also endorsed the move for applying pressure on the government for the protection of the Tamil community's rights in Sri Lanka by moving the United Nations.

India is not dharamashala: SC on foreign convict's plea

India is not dharamashala: SC on foreign convict's plea

Rediff.com20 May 2025

The petitioner's counsel said his client was facing threats of arrest and torture in his country as he was a former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam member, and that his wife and children had settled in India.

Karuna backs Eelam demand; seeks revival of TESO

Karuna backs Eelam demand; seeks revival of TESO

Rediff.com26 Apr 2012

Backing a seperate Eelam (homeland) for Sri Lankan Tamils, Dravida Munetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi has reiterated his demand for India's role in this regard as he sought reviving Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation.

Is the Eelam dream over?

Is the Eelam dream over?

Rediff.com17 Oct 2008

The Sri Lankan army is merely 1.2 miles away from Kilinochchi, the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam's headquarters in Northern Sri Lanka. The Lankan government believes that the quarter-century old militant movement of the LTTE is in its last phase.

The Hunt Review: A MUST WATCH!

The Hunt Review: A MUST WATCH!

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

You are hooked on The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case from the first episode, applauds Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

LTTE chief Prabhakaran alive, claims Tamil leader, but finds few takers

LTTE chief Prabhakaran alive, claims Tamil leader, but finds few takers

Rediff.com13 Feb 2023

Fourteen years after the Sri Lankan government announced his death, a veteran Tamil nationalist leader claimed in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday that Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, is doing well and said a conducive atmosphere prevails for him to appear now.

Lankan president's party sweeps parliamentary polls

Lankan president's party sweeps parliamentary polls

Rediff.com15 Nov 2024

Sri Lanka's National People's Power of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday swept the parliamentary elections by winning a two-thirds majority, and also dominating the Jaffna electoral district -- the heartland of the nation's Tamil minority.

Seshan wanted to halt polls after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination: Book

Seshan wanted to halt polls after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination: Book

Rediff.com17 Apr 2025

A new book by former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi claims that former chief election commissioner T N Seshan proposed an immediate halt to the general election process after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991 and even offered to become home minister. Gandhi, who was joint secretary to then president R Venkatraman, writes that Seshan was the one who broke the news of the assassination to the president and arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhawan "super-fast" that night. According to Gandhi's account, Seshan told Venkatraman that he felt the election process needed to be stopped and that he was ready to take on the role of home minister if necessary. However, Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra assured the president that the situation was under control and that there was no need to pause the election process. Seshan's suggestions were ultimately ignored, but he did manage to postpone the second and third phases of polling.

'We Were Hoping We Would Be Able To Catch Them Alive'

'We Were Hoping We Would Be Able To Catch Them Alive'

Rediff.com8 Jul 2025

'The CBI did a wonderful job of tracking down the killers, but at the end of the day, all the hard work went for a toss.' 'If we had caught them alive, the operation would have been successful completely.'

Over 20 held in Lanka for observing slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran's birthday

Over 20 held in Lanka for observing slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran's birthday

Rediff.com28 Nov 2023

At least 24 people were arrested by the security forces for defying the ban on celebrations, officials said.

Lankan Tamils issue: MDMK chief Vaiko held

Lankan Tamils issue: MDMK chief Vaiko held

Rediff.com23 Oct 2008

This is the second time that Vaiko had been arrested for supporting the banned outfit. He was arrested under POTA by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government for speaking in support of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

LTTE wanted a huge Tamil Elam state: Gotabhaya

LTTE wanted a huge Tamil Elam state: Gotabhaya

Rediff.com22 Mar 2009

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam led by its supremo V Prabhakaran had aspired to carve out a big Tamil elam state extending from near Colombo to the southern part of Sri Lanka, the island nation's top defence official has said.

With a trembling voice, DMK seeks Tamil homeland

With a trembling voice, DMK seeks Tamil homeland

Rediff.com14 Aug 2012

Karunanidhi, who was the prime mover, remained subdued and vague while demanding his Eelam, says S Murari

Top Lankan Tamil politician slain

Top Lankan Tamil politician slain

Rediff.com14 Jun 2003

Defence Secretary Fernando said Subathran was gunned down by sniper fire in Jaffna.

Sri Lanka forms committee for repatriation of Tamil refugees from India

Sri Lanka forms committee for repatriation of Tamil refugees from India

Rediff.com5 Sep 2022

The Sri Lanka deputy high commissioner's office in Chennai is coordinating the efforts, it added.

Chidambaram feels Tamil heat

Chidambaram feels Tamil heat

Rediff.com11 May 2009

Filmmakers Bharatiraja and Seeman, who have been vocal in their support for Sri Lankan Tamils and the demand for a separate nation, Eelam, are going all out to derail the Congress in Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lanka rejects Trudeau's 'Tamil Genocide' comment

Sri Lanka rejects Trudeau's 'Tamil Genocide' comment

Rediff.com20 May 2023

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Trudeau's statements, asserting that they contained outrageous claims of genocide relating to past conflicts in the country.

'LTTE tortures Tamils in Lanka'

'LTTE tortures Tamils in Lanka'

Rediff.com15 Dec 2008

Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tigers are subjecting ethnic Tamils in their northern stronghold, Vanni, to forced recruitment, abusive forced labor, and restrictions on movement that place their lives at risk, the Human Rights Watch said in a report.

Karunanidhi re-kindles SL Tamil issue, HC allows TESO meet

Karunanidhi re-kindles SL Tamil issue, HC allows TESO meet

Rediff.com12 Aug 2012

Seeking to inject life into the defunct Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Sunday charged the Sri Lankan army with running a "state of Emergency" in Tamil areas.

'Prabhakaran wanted to kill Tamil intellectuals'

'Prabhakaran wanted to kill Tamil intellectuals'

Rediff.com25 Oct 2009

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's slain supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran was jealous of educated people and wanted to destroy the Tamil intellectuals for his survival, a Tamil leader has claimed.

Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and the UN

Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and the UN

Rediff.com29 Mar 2013

India's vote on the Sri Lanka resolution in Geneva may well have speeded up the general elections in the country and reduced our effectiveness as a regional power, says TP Sreenivasan

'India to engage Lankan Tamil parties'

'India to engage Lankan Tamil parties'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2010

India plans to directly invite Sri Lankan ethnic parties, including the pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Tamil National Alliance, for parleys to resolve the Tamil issue in the country, a media report has claimed, prompting the main opposition party to seek a clarification from the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Canada bans World Tamil Movement

Canada bans World Tamil Movement

Rediff.com18 Jun 2008

Citing terror threats from the outfit, Canada has banned the World Tamil Movement and freezed its assets. Two months ago, the federal police sought court nod to seize the WTM's bank accounts.

Lanka still holding 11,000 Tamil prisoners

Lanka still holding 11,000 Tamil prisoners

Rediff.com5 Dec 2009

Despite claiming that it has freed all Tamil civilians this week, Sri Lanka is still holding over 11,000 Tamil prisoners, including children without charge in closely guarded 'rehabilitation centres'.

'If Prabhakaran surrenders, Tamil suffering ends'

'If Prabhakaran surrenders, Tamil suffering ends'

Rediff.com24 Oct 2008

Professor P Radhakrishnan, a sociologist from the Madras Institute of Development Studies, draws the difference between the LTTE and the ordinary Tamils of Sri Lanka.

3 Tamil Nadu politicians deported from Lanka

3 Tamil Nadu politicians deported from Lanka

Rediff.com22 Feb 2011

A Member of Parliament and two other politicians from Tamil Nadu were on Tuesday deported by Sri Lankan immigration authorities after they landed in Colombo to attend the funeral of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's mother, who died on Sunday.Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader and MP Thol Thirumavalan and others were deported back to India from the international airport in Colombo."They have been deported upon their arrival,"said a Lankan leader.