The head office of the Tamil National People's Front in Jaffna was “surrounded by a huge contingent of Sri Lanka Army, Police and intelligence personnel" as Tamil genocide commemoration events taking place across the North-East today.

The latest development, tweeted by the party's official account, comes as the Sri Lankan state attempted to crackdown on remembrance events.

 

<p>A delegation from the European Union to Sri Lanka has issued a statement commemorating the 11th anniversary since the end of the armed conflict, by stating they will "support Sri Lanka’s efforts towards reconciliation".</p>

Members of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) alongside religious leaders and civil society were blocked from holding a vigil to mark the Mullivaikkal massacres in Batticaloa this morning.

 

Former Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member, M K Sivajilingam paid tribute to the victims of the Mullivaikkal massacre at Semmai, as Sri Lankan police attempted to distrupt the memorial. The police cited that a court order prevented them from holding the memorial. 

Sri Lankan security forces have arrested at least two activists from the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), as Mullivaikkal commemorations are underway across the Tamil homeland.

The TNPF tweeted that Trincomalee District Organizer Sri Gnaneshwaran and District secretary Kugan had been detained by Sampoor police.

A live virtual commemoration ceremony is currently underway, as British Tamils commemorate Tamil Genocide day today.

To join proceedings, please see the Zoom link and details below.

Despite the Sri Lankan state’s efforts, Tamils across the North-East lit candles and laid flowers in commemorative events to mark 11 years since the massacre of tens of thousands of civilians in Mullivaikkal.

<p>Commemorating the end of the Sri Lankan war, the United National Party applauded "contributions made by our brave security forces", which have been accused of war crimes and genocide, as Tamils across the North-East commemorated those killed by the military eleven years ago.</p>

Today marks yet another year when Tamils across the island, and around the world, light candles, lay flowers and bow their heads to commemorate the massacres at Mullivaikkal. Eleven long years have now passed since the atrocities that marked the zenith of Sri Lanka’s genocide. Yet with no justice, no accountability and no political solution, the wounds of 2009 remain fresh.

After hearing a successful appeal from the TNPF (Tamil National People’s Front), the Jaffna magistrate has lifted the quarantine order against Gajen Ponnambalam, President of the TNPF, and 10 others.

This decision was reached after lawyers appealed quarantine orders which would have prevented party officials from observing Mullivaikkal remembrance events as they were ordered to remain in quarantine.

Marking 11 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils, we revisit the final days leading up to the 18^th of May 2009 – a date remembered around the world as ‘Tamil Genocide Day’. The total number of Tamil civilians killed during the final months is widely contested. After providing an initial death toll of 40,000, the UN found evidence suggesting that 70,000 were killed. Local census records indicate that at least 146,679 people are unaccounted for and presumed to have been killed.

Sri Lankan police stopped the former chief minister of the Northern Provincial Council from travelling to Mullivaikkal for a commemoration event this morning, as part of efforts by the state to halt remembrance events across the North-East.