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Lawrence Valin’s debut feature ‘Little Jaffna’ to premiere at Venice Film Festival

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Lankan descent French filmmaker Lawrence Valin s feature directorial debut Little Jaffna is set to make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The first clip has been unveiled from the film, said a report published by Variety.

The film, which Valin also co-wrote and stars in, explores the Tamil diaspora experience in France through the prism of gang culture in the area of central Paris known informally as Little Jaffna, named after the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war, which ravaged the country from 1983 to 2009.

Valin developed the project after his experiences acting in and directing short films. His journey to Little Jaffna was influenced by his involvement with Jacques Audiard s Cannes Palme d Or-winning film Dheepan (2015), which also dealt with the Sri Lankan Tamil experience in France.

I got the audition to pass the casting for Dheepan for the main role, Valin told Variety. When I passed the audition, I was like, Okay, this is a life chance to work with Jacques Audiard, one of the best French directors. I love his work. However, after three months, Valin was offered a background role instead of the lead. I was like, Man, I passed the audition for the main role and I said, No, thanks.’

This experience proved pivotal for Valin s career trajectory. After that I started to think that I have to direct. Otherwise I cannot play, I cannot have any role or character, and I was okay, I m going to write and I m going to direct. That film influenced me to be a director. That s the link for me, Valin said.

Valin s acting experiences in France also highlighted the limited opportunities for actors of Tamil descent. All the time, when I get some casting stuff, it s like, you have to play the Indian, Valin recounted. And I was like, I m just not Indian. I m French too. He even went to the extent of learning English with an Indian accent to secure roles in French films, a practice that left him feeling frustrated with the industry s stereotypical portrayals.

Before embarking on Little Jaffna, Valin honed his directing skills with two short films. His first, also titled Little Jaffna (2018), was his graduation project from the La F mis film school. For this project, Valin worked with Jesuthasan Anthonythasan, the lead actor from Dheepan. He already had the experience with Audiard, and it was very easy for me to direct him, because he understood everything very quickly, Valin said.

While the first short was budgeted at 25,000 ($27,800) and had a 21-minute running time, the second, The Loyal Man, was a more ambitious 41-minute film with a budget of 250,000 ($278,000). You have the pressure going with that, because more money, more pressure, Valin noted. The film was selected for Clermont-Ferrand, where Valin won best actor.

For the feature Little Jaffna, Valin aimed to create a film that would resonate with both Tamil audiences and a broader international viewership. If you’re making a film [only] for Tamil people, just a few people will look at it, Valin explained. I need to put the war in a way to make everyone understand what is going on.

The director enlisted established Indian actors Radikaa Sarathkumar and Vela Ramamoorthy for key roles, noting their experience brought valuable depth to the characters. The film was made with the support of the French Sri Lankan Tamil community who took the project seriously when Sarathkumar s participation was confirmed, Valin said. When I met Radikaa ma am, it was just clear she wanted to do [it] without any money, Valin added. She played the character of my grandma, my real grandma. I give her the photo of my grandma, and she changed her way to be exactly like my grandma.

However, Valin decided not to cast Anthonythasan. Sadly, I didn t want him to be in this film, because everyone will say Dheepan and Little Jaffna because these are the only two French films [about] Tamil people, Valin said. People will always talk about Dheepan [and] its effect. And I say, Okay, I have to do something that it’s not, you don’t have to think about that.’

While the film is set in 2009, Valin intentionally avoided specifying dates to emphasize the ongoing nature of the issues depicted. People are still suffering there in Sri Lanka, he said. It’s important to say that people are still suffering there, and we remember them.

Valin s approach to filmmaking is deeply personal and hands-on. He not only directs but also acts in his films, a method he believes creates a stronger connection with his cast, many of whom are non-professional actors. It’s my way of directing. It’s to be in the heart of the creation with the other actors, Valin explained. Most of my actors are non-professional actors. They are very scared at the beginning, and I’m saying, Man, I’m with you. I’m scared too. We are going together.’ Valin broke his wrist during the first week of shoot and worked through the pain.

The filmmaker hails from a Sri Lankan Tamil family and his journey reflects his dual identity as both French and Tamil. The film is about identity, and I know that it’s deep in my story, Valin said. He sees Little Jaffna as a way to bridge his two cultures without having to choose between them. The director s cinematic influences are also deeply rooted in Tamil cinema, and he cites superstar Rajinikanth and Vijay as his acting inspirations.

Little Jaffna closes Venice’s Critics Week and is next headed to Toronto where it is part of the Centrepiece program. Charades handles international sales.


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Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in US torpedo strike to be repatriated

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3 hours ago

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2026/03/13

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The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in a torpedo attack by a US submarine last week in the Indian Ocean are due to be flown home on Friday, Sri Lanka’s defence ministry has said.

The seamen were among 130 thought to be aboard the Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, when it was sunk on 4 March about 40km (25 miles) from Sri Lanka’s southern coastline.

A police escort transferred bodies to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on Friday morning for the repatriation to Iran, after they were stored in two freezers at Galle National Hospital.

Sri Lanka said 32 sailors rescued by its navy after the torpedo attack “will remain in Sri Lanka”, according to news agency AFP.

A magistrate in the Sri Lankan city of Galle ordered that the 84 bodies should be released to the Iranian embassy.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said shortly after the sinking that the Iranian warship had died a “quiet death”.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had “perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores”, adding that “the US will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set”.

Video released by the US Department of Defense after the incident showed a ship being struck, causing the stern to rise up before exploding.

The Iris Dena had been returning from a military exercise hosted by India when it was attacked.

Its sinking in international waters came during the current US-Israeli war with Iran and marked a dramatic widening of the conflict.

Iran has since launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East – targeting Gulf countries allied with the US.

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Safeguarding linguistic heritage is not only a cultural responsibility, but also a shared commitment to preserving the diversity of our world – PM

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2026/03/13

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Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest in the special event organized to commemorate International Mother Languages Day 2026 on 13 March 2026 at the New Arts Theatre of the University of Colombo. The event was held under the theme ’Languages Unite: Diverse Voices, Shared Humanity’.

The event was jointly organized by the High Commission of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka with the support of the United Nations, the Sri Lanka Scout Association, and the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association.

Certificates and awards were presented to school winners of the painting, essay, and short video creation competitions organized in conjunction with the celebration of International Mother Language Day 2026.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“International Mother Language Day stands as a powerful reminder of the profound connection between language, identity, and dignity.

This global observance owes its origins to the visionary initiative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s advocacy transformed a national commemoration into a global movement one that celebrates the rich mosaic of humanity’s linguistic heritage.

Sri Lanka’s language diversity reflects the richness of our pluralistic heritage. This diversity should not be seen as a challenge to be managed, but as a strength to be valued and cherished.

When we protect language rights, we nurture social harmony. When we promote multilingual education, we empower future generations. And when we listen to one another in our own languages, we affirm each other’s humanity. At a time when divisions can easily take root, respect for linguistic diversity can instead serve as a bridge of empathy and cooperation.

In an increasingly digital age, we must also reflect on the importance of preserving linguistic diversity in cyberspace. Thousands of languages around the world remain vulnerable. Without conscious efforts in education, technology, and policy, many risk fading into silence. Safeguarding linguistic heritage is therefore not only a cultural responsibility, but also a shared commitment to preserving the diversity of our world”.

The Prime Minister remarked that the partnership between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh continues to grow in friendship and cooperation with the shared commitment to multilateralism, cultural understanding, and people-to-people engagement strengthens the bonds between the two nations.

The event was attended by the Bangladesh High Commissioner, Andalib Elias, Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, FAO Country Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives Vimlendra Sharan, Chief Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association Dr. Kushantha Herath, diplomatic crops, members of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, and the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association and students.

[Prime Minister’s media division]

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This is not an ordinary scholarship programme. It defines the future vision of our country – PM

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4 hours ago

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2026/03/13

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government believes investments in education should be encouraged to develop highly skilled human resources essential for rebuilding the country, adding that the scholarship programme is a national initiative that reflects the country’s future vision.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the inauguration ceremony of the scholarship programme that provides opportunities for students who excelled in the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination to pursue their undergraduate studies at the world’s leading universities. The event was held on 12 March 2026 at the Ministry of Education, Isurupaya.

An investment of Rs. 4,001 million is expected to be allocated for this project.

Under this programme, it is planned to award 200 foreign scholarships to students during the period of 2025 and 2033. As the initial phase of the programme, 32 students have been selected for the 2025/26 academic year, and 9 students have already secured admission to some of the world’s leading universities, including those in Sydney, Melbourne, Monash in Australia, and Auckland in New Zealand.

A transparent selection process has been followed in selecting the students. They are required to pursue their studies in universities ranked within the top 500 of global rankings such as QS, THE, or ARWU.

For each selected student, a maximum financial allocation of Rs. 20 million per year will be provided, with a total of up to Rs. 80 million (Rs. 80,000,000) for the full four-year undergraduate programme.

Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“Today brings a great satisfaction to the Ministry of Education. As the first phase of a promise we made in our policy statement, scholarships have been awarded today to 33 students who achieved outstanding results in the Advanced Level Examination to pursue higher education abroad. Implementing this programme was not easy. We had to engage in extensive discussions regarding student selection, maintaining transparency, and identifying universities with higher academic standards.

This is not an ordinary scholarship programme. It is a programme that defines the future vision of our country. It provides students with the opportunity to study at some of the world’s leading universities. Therefore, students selected for this programme must demonstrate not only academic excellence but also leadership qualities, personality, and resilience.

To build our country, we need good citizens. We must create a human resource capable of taking the country forward. Countries such as Singapore, China, and Malaysia have progressed by investing in human resource development. We must also follow that path.

Beyond becoming graduates, these scholarship recipients should become individuals capable of making a meaningful impact on society and serving as part of the broader social transformation of our country. This is a long-term investment we are making. We expect you to support fellow students, lead teams, and demonstrate strong character.

No matter the challenges you face including the climate changes, cultural differences, or missing loved ones, you must remain determined and not abandon your journey. Use such challenges to develop your leadership qualities. Even difficult experiences can become opportunities. Learn from new cultures, technologies, and systems of knowledge. Become innovative thinkers who can apply that knowledge to the development of our country.

Gain as much experience as possible. Develop communication skills, empathy, teamwork, and the ability to understand others. Thereby you will be able to deliver the change we expect for the nation. We will never be left alone. In any challenging situation, we are ready to intervene and support you. We will facilitate the necessary coordination and assistance through embassies. If we are to take our country toward social transformation, it must be done through collective effort, protecting and supporting one another. We must create leaders who can guide not only Sri Lanka but the entire world toward a more humane future”.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, officials of the Ministry of Education, and the selected students.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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