Sri Lankan security forces have stepped up their presence around the Mullivaikkal memorial site today in the lead up to May 18, also known as 'Tamil Genocide Day'.
Investigators and army personnel were seen at the site where tens of thousands of Tamils were trapped and massacred by Sri Lanka's states forces in the final days of the armed conflict.
Locals living near the memorial were questioned by military investigators about what arrangements have been made to commemorate the day.
This is the latest attempt by the security forces to intimidate and block any Tamil commemorative events. Sri Lanka has continuously repressed Tamil memorialisation activities in the North-East, particularly around May 18 and Maaveerar Naal, either by enforcing legal restrictions or by harassment and intimidation by the state's security forces.
