Responding to the crisis in Sri Lanka, Lord Ahmad, UK Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations, and the Commonwealth, stressed the need for accountability and justice in Sri Lanka whilst maintaining that the current focus is “the immediate needs of Sri Lanka, its people and its welfare”.

Marking the 13th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide in Sri Lanka,  British MPs met with civil society actors and Tamil activists to renew their commitment to accountability and justice for war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan state.

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.

Muslims in Jaffna served Mullivakkal Kanji to locals earlier today, as part of commemorative events taking place across the North-East to mark Tamil Genocide Week.

Sri Lanka has been ranked 146^th in the world for press freedom by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) in their 2022 World Press Freedom Index, falling 19 places from the previous year.

“Press freedom issues are closely tied to the civil war that ravaged the island until 2009, and to the crimes – still left unpunished – against many journalists during the crushing of the Tamil rebellion,” said RSF.

“With a media sector lacking diversity and highly dependent on major political clans, journalism is at risk.”

Despite attempts by the Sri Lankan authorities to intimidate and harass Tamils, preparations have continued at Mullivaikkal to commemorate Tamil Genocide Day tomorrow.

Bishops across the North-East called on Sri Lanka’s protestors to “ accommodate the political demands and aspirations of the Tamils” and commemorate Tamil Genocide Day tomorrow.

The religious leaders said they “vehemently condemn the state-orchestrated violence unleashed on the peaceful protesters and are deeply concerned about the unprecedented humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sri Lanka”.

The statement released by the Bishops’ Council of the North-East earlier today went on to add,

Sri Lankan army intelligence officers trailed the Tamil National People's Front's (TNPF) float earlier today as it arrived in Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK). 

The float, which visited districts across the North-East before making its journey towards Mullivaikkal, was followed by Sri Lankan army intelligence officers in a three wheeler and on a motorcycle. 

Tamil journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan was on his way to cover commemoration events when he was stopped and harassed by Sri Lankan police and military officers yesterday.

This incident took place on Monday, May 16, ahead of Tamil Genocide Day commemorations.

Tamils across the North-East held remembrance events and distributed kanji yesterday to mark the fifth day of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week. 

Batticaloa 

A rally organised by the Association of Relatives of the Disappeared in the North East left Kallady in the East and headed towards Trincomalee.