Tamil mother dies on 3000th day of protest for the disappeared

On the 3000th day of the Tamil families of the disappeared relentless protest in Vavuniya, Veluchami Mari, a mother who had been searching for her son for 15 years, tragically passed away due to illness.

Mari Amma, as she was known, died at the age of 79, leaving behind a painful legacy of unanswered questions. Her son, Veluchami Sivakumar, was forcibly disappeared in 2009 during the final phase of the Sri Lankan military’s genocide  against Tamil civilians in Mullivaikkal. Like thousands of other Tamil families, she never received any official confirmation of his fate—no answers, no justice, and no closure.

Despite her age and deteriorating health, Mari Amma remained at the forefront of protests organised by the families of the forcibly disappeared. She was a constant presence at the protest in Vavuniya, demanding the truth about her son and the thousands of other Tamils who were forcibly disappeared by Sri Lankan security forces.

Since 2017, Tamil families of the disappeared have been engaged in a continuous roadside protest, braving extreme weather conditions, threats, and state intimidation. These families have repeatedly demanded answers from successive Sri Lankan governments, only to be met with broken promises, harassment, and silence.

The Sri Lankan state’s inaction has caused deep suffering among these families, many of whom are elderly and in poor health. More than 280 Tamil family members have died in recent years, without never knowing the fate of their loved ones who were forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lankan state.