Tamils laid flowers at Gandhi Park, Batticaloa, to mark 15 years since the Tamil genocide in which Sri Lanka's military slaughtered tens of thousands of Tamils who were trapped in the No Fire Zones. Representatives from civil society members were present and a letter calling for justice for crimes committed against the Tamils by the government and the release of Tamil political prisoners was handed to the Batticaloa and Trincomalee regional coordinator for Human Rights. In Kokkaddicholai Batticaloa, commemoration events were held by members of ITAK at the South West Village office.
Marking the 15th anniversary of the Mullivaikal massacres, Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya organised a poignant vigil today, May 18th, to demand justice for the atrocities committed during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009. The vigil took place in front of the protest tent of the families of the disappeared, where they have been demonstrating for 2,645 days, seeking answers and justice for their loved ones. This enduring struggle was brought into sharper focus as participants joined in commemorating the Mullivaikal massacre and renewing their calls for...
The 15th annual commemoration of Mullivaikal, which remembers the lives lost in the final stages of the genocide, took place today, Saturday (18), across Tamil Eelam. Among the various events held to mark this solemn occasion, a commemorative event was organised by the Mannar branch of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) at 9:00 am. The event in Mannar was held at the Thanthai Chelva statue area in the town centre, under the leadership of Charles Nirmalanathan, the President of the Mannar Branch and a Member of Parliament. The ceremony began with the lighting of a commemorative flame,...
The 15th anniversary of the genocide at Mullivaikal was commemorated today in Mannar, organised by the Tamil National Right to Life Movement under the leadership of its president, V.S. Sivakaran. The commemoration started with the lighting of a memorial lamp and laying of a flower garland by local priest Father Avithappar. The event was held at the statue of Thanthai Chelva in the Mannar Bazaar area. Following the garland-laying, attendees were offered Mullivaikkal kanji, a commemorative gesture to honour the memory of those who perished, and the hardship faced by survivors in the final days...
Thousands of Tamils have gathered in Mullivaikkal, Mullaitivu, the area where tens of thousands were massacred by the Sri Lankan government in the final days of the armed conflict fifteen years ago. Families of those killed in Mullivaikkal laid their photos around the commemoration ground, adorning flowers and lighting lamps in their memory. Govindarasan Punithavathy, who lost her husband in Mullivaikkal in May 2009 lights a lamp to begin the commemoration event. Eelam Tamil singer Kilmisha Yaazhisai, winner of last year's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil' Champ competition in India pays tribute at...
Flowers were scattered at Nandikadal lagoon by Tamil activists including former Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. This year marks 15 years since Sri Lanka's genocidal offensive that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils. Ravikaran said that Nandikadal is "a silent witness of the sad final scenes of our glorious history and is filled with our tears and blood of our relatives."
The Sri Lankan military overruns the last remaining ‘No Fire Zone’. TamilNet receives a final phone call before it loses all communication with its correspondents in the field.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung met with Tamil families of the disappeared, former combatants, and former Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) detainees, where she reiterated the inherent right of the families to mourn and memorialise their dead. Chung who is currently touring Jaffna, said on X: “Even today many Sri Lankan citizens face continued intimidation. All families have the right to memorialize loved ones. Their stories are poignant reminders of the need for a peaceful, durable political solution.” Met with families of the disappeared, former combatants, and former PTA detainees...
Remnants from Mullivaikkal were on display as survivors spoke at the launch of the second edition of Mullivakkal Stories by Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research in Jaffna. Among some of the items shown were the limited options for food such as the Mullivaikkal Kanji, vaipan, rice and lentils, and fried roti. When food, aid, and medicines were cut off to Tamil Eelam during the last stages of the armed conflict, Tamils relied on these foods to sustain themselves. Remnants of Mullivaikkal - in a makeshift hut, collected items were showcased, accompanied by people & their stories on the heart...
The University of Jaffna has displayed artwork on campus to mark 15 years since the Tamil genocide where tens of thousands of Tamils were brutally massacred at the hands of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Some of artwork depict the atrocities, such as extrajudicial killings, carried out by Sri Lanka's military during the final months of the conflict.