The families of the forcibly disappeared Tamils organised a demonstration in Vavuniya earlier today, seeking international support for the return of their missing relatives.
The protest commenced at 10am and took place in front of the usual location of the Vavuniya Old Bus Stand.
Demostrators observed health and safety measures due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of them carried photos of their forcibly disappeared member of family alongside posters.
The demonstrators raised slogans and held placards which demanded the release of the whereabouts of their disappeared loved ones. Some of them include the following;
“Where are our relatives?”
“Are Tamil children terrorists?”
“Where are those who surrendered with a white flag?”
Some posters urged the international community to pay attention to the plight of the families and refer Sri Lanka to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Secretary of the Vavuniya Disappeared Families Organisation said, “The international community cannot afford to keep its eyes closed any longer. It turned a blind eye during the end of the war… We are now living in this country without any basic rights”.
