The Eastern University's student union has condemned the arrest of four Tamils in Trincolmalee and called for their immediate release. On Sunday, four Tamils - Kamaleswaran Themila, Kamaleswaran Vijitha, Kalirajah Sujani and the Tamil National People's Front Muttur organiser, Hariharakumar - were arrested for distributing kanji as part of commemorations to mark 15 years since the Tamil genocide. Video footage shows Sri Lankan police officers dragging some of the women during the arrest. "The rights of the Tamil people are being denied by the Sri Lankan government and there has not been any...
Three of my children were killed in an artillery attack on the same day at the same place. If they were alive today, the eldest son would be 20 years old, daughter would be 17 years old, and the youngest son would be 15 years old. With them, nine members of my family, including my mother-in-law, my husband’s 6-year-old sister, his younger brother, brother’s wife, their 6-year-old son and their 9-month-old daughter, were killed in that incident. Six of them were children.
Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Selvarajah Kajendren called for the immediate arrest of two police officers whom he says are responsible for the death of 41-year-old Pradeepan Selvanayakam in Jaffna.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung is visiting Jaffna at a time when the Sri Lankan government has increased its crackdown on Mullivaikkal commemorations across the Tamil homeland. “This week I’m back in Jaffna to listen to diverse perspectives from civil society, youth, local officials and religious leaders to explore avenues for continued U.S. collaboration and support for Sri Lankans in the Northern Province,” she tweeted. This week I’m back in Jaffna to listen to diverse perspectives from civil society, youth, local officials and religious leaders to explore avenues for continued...
The 39th anniversary of the Kumuthini boat massacre was solemnly observed on Delft island today, as people gathered to remember the 36 Tamils who were killed by Sri Lankan naval officers. On May 15 1985, six plain-clothed Navy officers boarded the boat and pointed a gun at passengers before ordering them to come up to the main deck one by one and shout their name and destination. Each passenger was then hacked to death. The commemoration took place at a monument on Delft island that is dedicated to the victims. Religious observances were held at the St. Xavier Church and Veerapathra Pillaiyar...
Events were held in Thirunavakulam, Vavuniya and Karaithivu, Batticaloa, to mark the fourth day of Tamil Genocide Remembrance week as Tamils around the world commemorate 15 years since the Tamil genocide. Across the North-East, kanji is being distributed in the lead up to May 18, also known as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. The sharing of kanji, is an attempt by Tamils in the homeland and abroad to chronicle their struggles, understand their plight, and honour them in their deaths. During the final phase of the conflict, kanji was the only source of sustenance for Tamils as they fled the...
Sri Lanka police blocked Tamil families of the disappeared in Batticaloa from distributing Mullivaikkal kanji to mark the third day of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week. The organisers which included family members, relatives, and members of the Christian church were threatened by police yesterday for trying to commemorare the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred at the hands of the Sri Lankan state. The Sri Lankan police sent away individuals who came to drink the kanji. Dozens of officers surrounded the activists as they attempted to prepare and distribute Mullivaikkal Kanji, a tradition...
Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne attending the Russian Victory Day ceremony at the Russian Cultural Centre in Colombo this week Accused war criminal and acting defence secretary Kamal Gunarate was the chief guest at the Victory Day ceremony held at the Russian embassy in Colombo last week. Gunaratne, former commander of the notorious 53 Division of Sri Lanka’s army , stands accused of leading campaigns which slaughtered tens of thousands of Tamil civilians. His unit is further accused of engaging in sexual violence, summary executions, and the disappearance of those who surrendered to the...
File photograph Today marks 39 years since 36 Tamils were massacred by Sri Lankan Navy officers on board the Kumuthini boat on May 15, 1985. Eye witnesses reported seeing six plain clothed Navy officers boarding the Kumuthini boat and pointing a gun at passengers before ordering them to come up to the main deck one by one and shout their name and destination. The names of those who lost their lives in the Kumuthini boat massacre Each passenger was then hacked to death. Witnesses reported seeing hacked body parts and blood across the deck. Amnesty International identified 23 of the victims and...
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) leader and MP Sivagnanam Shritharan called the actions of Sri Lankan police who arrested four Tamils earlier this week for preparing Mullivaikkal Kanji ‘despicable’ and ‘inhumane’ adding that their arrests were unwarranted and illegal. “The police officers both men and women from the Muttur police station behaved like animals,” he said speaking in Sri Lanka's parliament. “It is shameful that they dragged the women away, while the women screamed helplessly and their families watched in horror. They were taken to the police station in the same clothing they had...