1 day ago
Hong Kong Research With Tamil Group Fuels Sri Lanka-China Questions
A news report says a university in Hong Kong plans to study ideas about creating a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
The study would be led by Professor Alex Green and done with the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam.
The university advertised for a postdoctoral fellow to work on the project.
Some critics worry that the research could be connected to political goals.
They also wonder whether China might be trying to influence Sri Lanka.
The report does not establish that China is involved in the project.
Ceylon News 24 says it asked the professor and university for comment.
It reported that neither had replied by October 1, 2026.
A report says The Chinese University of Hong Kong plans research on the establishment of an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
The project is described in a Faculty of Law job advertisement seeking a postdoctoral fellow.
The research is to be directed by Professor Alex Green and conducted in collaboration with the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam.
The report says critics question whether the collaboration has geopolitical motives and could affect Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
Ceylon News 24 said it contacted Green on September 3 but had received no response from him or the university as of October 1, 2026.
- Who
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Alex Green, and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam are identified as participants in the reported research project.
- What
- A research project on political and legal discussions surrounding the establishment of an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
- Where
- The project is associated with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and concerns Sri Lanka.
- When
- The report says an inquiry was sent on September 3 and that no response had arrived by October 1, 2026.
- Why
- The stated research objective is to study political and legal discourse about establishing an independent Tamil state; critics question whether the project has wider geopolitical motives.
Critics’ concerns
Project’s stated academic purpose
Meaning of the collaboration
Critics’ concerns
The report says critics suspect geopolitical motives in a Chinese university’s work with a group advocating a separate Tamil state.
Project’s stated academic purpose
The project is described as academic research into ongoing political and legal discourse; the article provides no response from the professor or university addressing the criticism.
Possible Chinese government role
Critics’ concerns
Ceylon News 24 raises questions about whether China could be using the issue to pressure Sri Lanka, but presents this as a question and allegation.
Project’s stated academic purpose
The article does not establish Chinese government involvement, and it reports that the professor and university had not responded to its inquiry by October 1, 2026.
Key facts
- Institution
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Faculty
- Faculty of Law
- Research lead
- Professor Alex Green
- Collaborating group
- Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)
- Research subject
- Political and legal discourse around establishing an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka
- Job notice
- Postdoctoral Fellow, reference 260001DQ
- Reported inquiry
- Ceylon News 24 said it emailed Professor Green on September 3 and had received no response from him or the university by October 1, 2026.
Quotes
Ceylon News 24
Sri Lankan news portal reporting on the research project
“Critics allege that geopolitical motivations lie behind a Chinese academic institution partnering with banned or diaspora organisations advocating for a separate state. A serious debate has emerged over whether China is acting in this manner to appease Tamils in order to fulfil its own geopolitical objectives, or if this is blackmail aimed at forcing Sri Lanka to yield to its demands.”
thehansindia.com
“The primary objective of this research is stated as studying the ongoing political and legal discourses surrounding the establishment of an independent Tamil state within the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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