Hundreds of Tamils have gathered in Mullivaikkal yard today to remember the massacre that took place 14 years ago. 

Flowers were scattered at Nandikadal lagoon this morning under the chairmanship of former Northern Provincial Councillor Thurairasa Ravikaran to mark Tamil Genocide Day. 

"Nandikadal, which has been a silent witness to the atrocities subjected to the Tamil people, contains the tears and blood of our relatives," Ravikaran said to the media. 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) told the Sri Lankan government to "stop stalling and fulfill its obligation to investigate and prosecute the grave violations for which many people still suffer" in a statement marking 14 years since the Tamil genocide. 

"Fourteen years later, the Sri Lankan government remains in denial about the atrocities committed by its forces. The Mothers of the Disappeared, a group that has persistently sought to learn the fate of their loved ones, face harassment from security agencies, while the government provides neither information nor justice," the rights group wrote. 

In a show of unity and solidarity, British Members of Parliament (MPs) from different political parties gathered at the Palace of Westminster today to mark Mullivaikkal Tamil Remembrance Day and honour the victims of the genocide committed against the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The event was organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) and featured the signing of a Book of Remembrance, a video presentation, and an exhibition.

Marking the 14th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, the UK's Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has urged the British government to act upon the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and refer Sri Lankan war criminals to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Preparations were completed at Mullivaikkal memorial yard today ahead of Tamil Genocide Day which falls on May 18. 

Aruthpani Leo Adikalalar, one of the co-chairs of the North-East Mullivaikal Memorial Foundation, said that all the preparations for the Tamil Genocide commemoration at Mullivaikal yard have been completed and everyone is invited to gather there tomorrow.

A Tamil man was arrested and released on police bail yesterday for having a banner which read "Tamil Genocide Memorial Day". 

Pathmanathan Sirojan, a staff member of the AHAM Humanitarian Resource Centre was reportedly arrested by the Ayithamalai police during an commemoration event in Naripulthottam, Batticaloa. 

Commemorative events have been taking place across the North-East in the lead up to May 18, also known as 'Tamil Genocide Day', to remember the tens of thousands of Tamils that were massacred in a military offensive by Sri Lanka. 

Nelson Venkatesan’s previous outing was a well-made family entertainer called ‘Monster,’ starring a typically cartoonish SJ Suryah as a man haunted by a mouse. The film is innocent fun, which are two words I would not use to describe his most recent work ‘Farhana.’ Venkatesan completely shifts gears, to deliver a solidly thought-out thriller. It impressively weaves through themes of masks, desires and self-control. 

Venkat Prabhu’s latest cinematic offering arrives not too soon after his best work with 2021’s ‘Maanaadu’ and last year’s middlingly received ‘Manmadha Leelai.’ ‘Custody’ is a bilingual venture, featuring names from both the Tamil and Telugu film industry, including lead Naga Chaitanya. Despite a cult following for his films, Prabhu’s filmography has been spotty at best - ‘Mankatha’ seemed like a fluke until ‘Maanaadu.’ With ‘Custody,’ Prabhu has slipped back into cruise control. 

(Photo - Mullivaikkal remembrance 2022)

Marking the 14^th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, British Tamils gathered in parliament to commemorate the tens of thousands killed during the genocide as well as renew their commitment to the principles of the Vaddukoddai Resolution.