On May 18th, Tamil political parties came together in Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu to commemorate the lives lost during the final stages of the war in 2009, the peak of the genocide coming with the Mullivaikkal massacres. The remembrance event drew a diverse crowd, including children, who participated in honouring those who perished.
As a poignant symbol of remembrance, a photograph of Balachandran, the son of the leader of the LTTE, was released into the ocean, accompanied by the offering of flowers. This act represented the collective grief and tribute to all the lives lost.
Amidst the solemn atmosphere, the attendees raised slogans, expressing their heartfelt remembrance and denouncing the Rajapakshas. The executive decisions made by the Rajapaksha regime were cited as contributing to the tragic loss of thousands of lives.
The gathering of activists emphasized the urgent need for a monument dedicated to the Tamil people who fell victim to the war. They also called for May 18th to be officially recognized as a day of remembrance for the genocide against the Tamil community.