Day 6: Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week marked across Tamil homeland

Jaffna - Kantharmadam

An event was organized in Kantharmadam in Jaffna today to mark the sixth day of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week as Tamils around the world commemorate 15 years since the Tamil genocide. Parents brought their children and explained to them the struggles of Tamils and how they were massacred during the final stages of the armed conflict. At the event, Mullivaikkal Kanji was prepared and served as a reminder of the genocide and atrocities committed by the Sri Lanka Security Forces. 

Mullaitivu

Events were also held in Vallipunam in Mullaitivu where residents laid floral tributes, offered prayers and listened to speeches retelling the stories from Mullivaikkal. 

Over the last few days, Tamils across the North-East, distributed Mullivaikkal kanji in the run-up to May 18, also known as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. The sharing of kanji is an attempt by Tamils in the homeland and abroad to chronicle their struggles, understand their plight, and honour them in their deaths. During the final phase of the conflict, kanji, rice gruel, was the only source of sustenance for Tamils as they fled the firing by Sri Lankan security forces. Humanitarian aid particularly food and medicines were severely curtailed, causing many deaths by starvation.

Tamils continue to courageously hold commemorations even though Tamils in several areas have been threatened or arrested for preparing and distributing kanji. 

Jaffna - Nallur

An open-air exhibition was held in Nallur depicting the final phases of the armed conflict through narrations, stories and imagery taken at the time. The exhibits were hosted near the memorial statue to remind and recall the plight of Tamils, the massacres and the horrors of the genocide committed by the Sri Lankan Security Forces. 

Vavuniya - Thavasikulam

An event was also held at Thavasikulam in Vavuniya today in memory of tens of thousands of Tamils killed, with the distribution of Mullivaikkal Kanji among Tamil residents. Several Tamils gathered to help prepare and share the kanji. 

Trincomalee - Pathirakaliammam 

Members of Batticaloa civil society organizations and activists organized an event at Pathirakaliammam hosted an event to commemorate Mullivaikkal through the distribution of Kanji.