Sri Lankan Tamil Archives

Neelan Tiruchelvam: An Appreciation of His Mediatory Politics Source:Thuppahis Kagusthan Ariaratnam in Groundviews, 8 August 2025, where the title reads “Neelan Unsilenced …” while highlights here have been added by The Editor, Thuppahi Photo courtesy of Pitasanna Shanmugathas NEELAN: UNSILENCED is a compelling and vital documentary that successfully situates the life of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam within the turbulent history of the Sri Lankan conflict. Its greatest achievement is providing a nuanced entry point into the war by focusing on the non-violent, intellectual and pluralistic dimensions of Tamil resistance – a perspective often eclipsed by the narrative of armed struggle. By foregrounding Neelan’s journey, the film illuminates a leader who dedicated his life to constitutional reform and reconciliation. The documentary masterfully portrays Tamil cultural pride and its long standing commitment to democratic strategies. This is powerfully illustrated through the story of Neelan’s father, Murugeysen Thiruchelvam, a pioneering Tamil statesman. This intergenerational framing adds emotional and intellectual ...

Kamala Harris’ Brahmin Tamil Roots: Ominous Portents for Sri Lanka? Source:Thuppahis Daya Gamage, in Asian Tribune and Elanka.com where the title runs thus: “Kamala Harris: Tamil Iyer Brahmin US VP for Sri Lanka Tamil reparation?” As Joe Biden becomes the U.S. 46th president of the United States, Kamala Devi Harris will be sworn in as the Vice President on January 20 next year. She is of South India’s Tamil Iyer Brahmin heritage. To date she has proudly retained her South Indian heritage – maintaining a certain level of the Tamil tongue – that could extend her vice-presidential reach to the South Asian region. Having a senior staffer of Sri Lankan Tamil-heritage, there is strong possibility that the Biden White House could add Sri Lanka’s ‘national issues’ or ‘ethnic issues’ as one of the US foreign policy planks – once again – in the form of ‘Tamil reparation’. Having had many conversations with those who are knowledgeable ...