Vanni District Member of Parliament Thurairasa Ravikaran scattered flowers at Nandikadal lagoon this morning to mark the 16th anniversary of the Tamil genocide.
Hundreds of thousands of Tamils attempted to flee across the Nandikadal lagoon towards Vadduvakkal in the final days of the armed conflict as the Sri Lankan armed forces closed in on them.
The area became littered with the bodies of those killed during the genocide at Mullivaikkal, with many perishing in the waters of the lagoon.
"This lagoon is mixed with the tears and blood of many of our relatives," Ravikaran said.
Prayers were also held at the Vattarapalla Kannagi Amman Temple.