Photograph courtesy of Virakesari

Ten people, including Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) MP Selvarajah Kajendren were arrested earlier today as they protested against the illegal construction of a Buddhist temple in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna.

On 18 May, Canadian politicians across all spectrums marked the newly recognized ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day' and renewed calls for accountability. 

Photograph: Canadian High Commissioner for Canada in Sri Lanka and Maldives 

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh over the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. 

In a statement, Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said that Trudeau's statement was "politically motivated" and "was issued for domestic political consumption in Canada." 

Proud to stand with the Tamil people. pic.twitter.com/6yILzKkxMO

— Rep. Wiley Nickel (@RepWileyNickel) May 19, 2023

On the 14^th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, US Congressman, Wiley Nickel, has released a statement acknowledging the Tamil genocide and reaffirming his commitment to stand by the Tamils in their fight for justice.

All photographs: Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lankan riot police were deployed to Borella after Sinhala extremists disrupted a commemoration event which was dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide at Mullivaikkal 14 years ago. 

For this anthology, Amazon Prime made the intelligent decision of passing the mantle of Creative Producer to one of Kollywood’s best: Thiagarajan Kumararaja. The result of this is a collection of short films at least a few leagues above the standard witnessed in previous attempts.

Marking the 14^th anniversary of the genocide at Mullivaikkal, Swiss MPs have released statements calling for the establishment of an international investigation into war crimes committed during the final stages of the armed conflict.

Fabian Molina MP, of the Social Democratic Party stated on Twitter:

On the 14^th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, the UK’s Minister for Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, released a statement reaffirming the government’s commitment to “pursuing truth, justice and accountability for all victims of Sri Lanka’s conflict”.

Marking the 14^th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, called for the arrest of Sri Lanka’s former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, “so that he answers for his crimes at an international court or tribunal”.

The tens of thousands of Tamils massacred in the final days of the armed conflict in May 2009 were remembered in Batticaloa this evening. 

A memorial flame was lit at Kallady beach in Batticaloa and flowers were sprinkled in the sea in remembrance of the victims of the Tamil genocide.