With Sri Lanka’s presidential polls looming, Tamil Guardian spoke with the Tamil common candidate, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, about his decision to contest and what the concept of a common candidate means for the Tamil nation. 

With Sri Lanka’s presidential polls looming, Tamil Guardian spoke with the Tamil common candidate, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, about his decision to contest and what the concept of a common candidate means for the Tamil nation. 

It was announced last month that Ariyanenthiran, a former Tamil National Alliance MP for Batticaloa district, would stand as a presidential candidate as the main Sinhala parties have repeatedly failed to address the grievances of Tamils, including the right to self-determination and accountability for atrocities committed against the Tamil people. 

Ariyanenthiran admits that while he does not expect to become the president of Sri Lanka, he “seeks to serve as a representative voice to both the international community and the southern part of Sri Lanka, highlighting the rights that should be granted to the Tamil people, who have suffered genocide on their own land.” 

The ITAK parliamentarian reflected on the different phases of the Tamil struggle which began with peaceful agitations following Sri Lanka’s independence to an armed conflict which was “eventually silenced” and has now returned to democratic protests. "Despite the various phases, the Tamil struggle for self-determination continues."

Ariyanenthiran stated that if Tamils in the North-East cast their vote for him, “they would be making it clear that the Tamil national issue remains unresolved and must be addressed.”

He called on the Tamil people to “vote for their liberation” in the upcoming elections and avoid casting their votes for Sinhala politicians who have ignored Tamil demands for decades. 

“Are we going to vote for those who divide us? Are we going to vote for those who say one thing in the North and another in the South? Are we going to vote for those who have divided the Northern and Eastern provinces?” Ariyanenthiran asked. 

Last week, Ariynenthiran launched his election campaign in Kilinochchi  where he visited the Mulankavil Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam to pay tribute to the LTTE cadres who lost their lives in the struggle for liberation. 

“We have lost many Tamil lives in the struggle for our rights,” Ariyanenthiran said. 

“After being repeatedly deceived by successive [Sinhala] presidents, it is time to reflect on these issues. This is why Tamils have decided to field a common candidate,” he concluded. 

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has announced its decision to support the Tamil common candidate, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran as the Sri Lankan Elections draw near. The decision, the party stated is based upon the long-held aspirations of the Tamil people which has been largely ignored in every consecutive election in Sri Lanka. 

"It is unfortunate but true that although an election is being held 15 years after the end of the armed conflict, Tamil people are yet to reap the benefits of a political movement and are yet to have their grievances addressed,"  it said. "We will provide this relief to the Tamil people domestically and through the international community - this election is an opportunity for us to achieve this mandate." 

The party stated that the Tamil people needed a leadership that would build upon past gains at the United Nations Human Rights Council, including bringing individuals before the International Criminal Court and a referendum for the homeland. The party added that it is the opinion of the majority of the Tamil people to make a decision that would reflect a realistic opportunity for achieving the aspirations of the Tamil people. In a statement released by the party, it was stated that the party had been deliberating its decision for many weeks and had to take this decision based on a broad consensus of all party members. Their full statement can be found here.

In this video, the ITAK's decision to support the Tamil common candidate is announced, stating that it was made in the best interest of the Tamil people. In a recent interview with Tamil Guardian, Ariyanenthiran admits that while he does not expect to become the president of Sri Lanka, he “seeks to serve as a representative voice to both the international community and the southern part of Sri Lanka, highlighting the rights that should be granted to the Tamil people, who have suffered genocide on their land.” He called on the Tamil people to “vote for their liberation” in the upcoming elections and to avoid casting their votes for Sinhala politicians who have ignored Tamil demands for decades.

Meanwhile, in response to media reports that the ITAK has decided to support Sajith Premadasa, senior leader Mavai Senathirajah stated that the party has not made a formal decision to support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. He clarified that the recent announcement regarding ITAK's support for Premadasa was made solely by MP M.A. Sumanthiran and does not reflect an official party stance. He said that key party leaders were not present at this meeting when the decision was reached. He noted that party members, including MPs Shivagnanam Sritharan and Charles Nirmalanathan, as well as senior members like S. Yogeshwaran and G. Srinesan, were not at the meeting.

“Our party's central committee has taken a decision. We will discuss this in ongoing meetings about its implementation. We will discuss what the public should do in this election for the liberation of our people,” he said, speaking at a memorial for the late MP V Tharmalingam in Jaffna. “We must implement the decision taken by the central committee, but people should bear in mind that the election results will determine the future, especially when they are voting for the liberation of the Tamil people. We, all the Tamils, should unite and use this election for the liberation of our people. That liberation is very important for us. We should all work as one for that liberation.”

KV Thavarasa, head of the Colombo branch of the ITAK, a member of the Central Committee, and President's Counsel said he does not agree with the Central Committee's decision to support Sajith Premadasa. He made this statement when a reporter from Lankasri asked for his comments regarding ITAK's decision to support Premadasa at the central committee meeting of the party on Sunday. “When the discussion about the presidential candidate took place in the meeting, I expressed the view that it is not political politeness to directly oppose the common Tamil candidate without holding discussions. Apart from that, the decision we take should not affect the future politics of our party when members of the Tamil nation are also supporting the Tamil common candidate,” he said, adding that he left the meeting because he felt it was improper to discuss the issue without a consensus. He further stated that several senior members were not present at the meeting when this decision was made.

The iconic Nallur Kandasamy temple in Jaffna has drawn thousands of devotees for its annual chariot festival, ther thiruvizha today.

The iconic Nallur Kandasamy temple in Jaffna has drawn thousands of devotees for its annual chariot festival, ther thiruvizha today.

Devotees from across the world gather at the temple to see the temple's primary deity Murugan paraded through the streets of Jaffna.

See photographs below: 

A group of lawyers appearing before the Mannar Magistrate Courts have called on the Sri Lankan government to arrest those responsible for a campaign targeting Mannar High Court judges through posters displayed in Colombo. On the second day of their strike, the lawyers demanded justice for the judges, condemning the hate campaign against them.

Addressing reporters, the lawyers pointed out that an anonymous group had put up posters in Colombo concerning ongoing hearings at the Mannar High Courts. As a result of the lawyers' protests, all hearings at the Mannar court were postponed, and legal work came to a halt.

The lawyers noted that nearly 52 individuals were arrested in connection with an attack on the Mannar High Court 12 years ago, and investigations have been ongoing since then. With these investigations nearing completion, the lawyers suggested that the recent poster campaign might be an attempt to influence the outcome. They also urged the high court judges to take a firm stance against the hate campaign, warning that failure to apprehend those responsible could lead to continued protests.

In Batticaloa’s Gandhi Park, an art exhibition unveiled 150 paintings that powerfully conveyed themes of loss, grief, and the relentless search for the disappeared—15 years after the Mullivaikkall genocide.

The works, stark and evocative, offered a poignant glimpse into the anguish of families who continue to seek answers about their missing loved ones. The exhibition, organized by the North-East Coordination Committee along with associations representing the families of the disappeared, was driven by the initiative of local youths who planned, curated, and staged the event. Titled "Journey for Justice," the exhibition drew nearly 500 visitors, both young and old, from across Batticaloa.

Many of the paintings vividly portrayed the sense of injustice that still lingers among the Tamil community. The images—depicting the empty chairs at dinner tables, faded photographs, and silhouettes reaching into the void—resonated deeply with the audience. Onlookers said the artwork depicted the injustice inflicted upon the Tamil people. 

The event served not only as a platform for artistic expression but also as a solemn reminder of the unresolved pain that persists in the lives of those still waiting for justice.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has officially issued a Telecommunications Service Provider License to Starlink Lanka (Private) Limited, according to an announcement by the President’s Media Division (PMD) on August 13.

The decision comes in the wake of a meeting between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in Indonesia during the 10th World Water Forum. Their discussions focused on accelerating the application process to connect Sri Lanka to Musk’s Starlink network, aiming to improve the country's access to high-speed internet via advanced satellite technology.

This license authorizes Starlink Lanka to provide Satellite Broadband Services across the country, effective from August 12, 2024, under Section 17B of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991.

Starlink, a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX—a U.S.-based aerospace company owned by Musk—currently provides coverage in 102 countries and dominates the satellite internet market with approximately 60% of the roughly 7,500 satellites orbiting Earth. While Musk has shown interest in expanding Starlink’s services to India, no official plans for launching in South Asia have been announced yet.

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken control of the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, following the resignation of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who stepped down from his ministerial role to run in the upcoming Presidential election.

A Gazette notification issued on August 7 by the Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, officially designated the ministry under the President’s purview. This move, made in consultation with the Prime Minister under Article 44 (3) of the Constitution, positions Wickremesinghe at the helm of the critical ministerial portfolio.

Rajapakshe, who announced his candidacy on July 25 and resigned on July 29, had been a controversial figure during his tenure. Before leaving office, he advocated for the Anti-Terrorism Act, a proposed legislation criticized by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) for its broad definition of terrorism and expansive powers.

The former justice minister Rajapakshe has also been vocal against the Tamil diaspora, especially regarding their role in the passage of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution 51/L1, and has promoted another domestic mechanism, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, as an alternative. However, these domestic approaches have been consistently rejected by the Tamil community, which argues that such mechanisms have failed to deliver justice or accountability.

In October 2022, Tamil families of the disappeared protested in Jaffna against a visit by the Justice Minister, underscoring their disapproval of the Office of Missing Persons, which has not yielded significant outcomes since its establishment in 2017. The President's new oversight of the Justice Ministry comes at a critical time, with ongoing scrutiny of the government's approach to justice and reconciliation.

Despite the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the end of the armed conflict, Tamils arriving in Sri Lanka from abroad continue to face harassment by authorities who claim there are links to the LTTE.

In an incident last month, a man accused of being a former LTTE member, who had spent 18 years abroad, was detained at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and interrogated by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).

The individual, Subramaniam Sasikaran, was claimed to have been involved in a bombing at Wilpattu Park in 2006 by Sri Lankan authorities, although details surrounding his involvement remain unclear. The Anuradhapura High Court had reportedly previously issued a warrant for Sasikaran’s arrest in connection with this attack, despite questions about the validity of the charges.

Upon Sasikaran’s arrival at BIA on July 11, 2024, he was detained by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department. The TID claimed custody of him, accusing him of aiding and abetting the bombing of a jeep and participating in LTTE activities. Authorities also allege that he received military training to attack government forces. However, no substantial evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.

Officials assert that Sasikaran was part of an LTTE group led by the former leader Bahiradhan, alongside several others supposedly involved in orchestrating the bombing. Yet, there is little independent verification of these assertions.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe has ordered that Sasikaran be detained and further interrogated by the TID. This case underscores the difficulties that returning Tamils continue to face, even after the official defeat of the LTTE, often based on tenuous accusations.

A similar situation occurred in March of this year when another alleged former LTTE member and activist, Selvanayagam Aravinthan, was arrested by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) for supposedly supporting the LTTE. Aravinthan had been summoned over a Facebook account, and when he did not attend an initial meeting, the TID issued another summons.

These arrests are part of a continuing pattern of harassment against Tamils in the North-East, who frequently face politically motivated or fabricated charges.

A group of Sri Lankan public officials faced strong resistance from Tamil residents as they attempted to illegally occupy hundreds of acres of coastal land for mineral sand mining, threatening the livelihoods of fishermen in the war-affected North-East.

On July 31, officials from various Sri Lankan institutions arrived at Alampil Beach in Mullaitivu district's Maritimepattu area to conduct tests for a proposed mining project that would encompass a 750-acre stretch of coastline, impacting the community's primary source of income.

Former Northern Provincial Council Member Thurairasa Ravikaran, alerted to the officials’ presence, quickly mobilized local Eelam Tamils to oppose the project. The officials’ plan included mining mineral sand between Alampil and Theerthakarai, extending 300 meters from the beach, but residents argued that land decisions could not be made without public consultation, emphasizing that the land belongs to the community.

When one of the officials tried to communicate in Sinhala, Ravikaran insisted on Tamil, stating, “If you cannot speak in Tamil, bring officials who can.”

Previously, during the tenure of the Northern Provincial Council, a 44-acre area in Kokilai was protected from mineral sand mining, but operations resumed after the Council’s term ended, affecting land owned by 16 private individuals. In February 2022, Tamil residents who had lost their land staged protests near a Tamil public school in Kokilai, drawing attention to their plight. During these protests, a sign bearing the words “Industries Ministry-Lanka Mineral Sands Limited-Kokilai” was photographed, highlighting the ongoing struggle against land appropriation.

Ravikaran accused the government of trying to displace Tamil fishermen from their coastal homes without consulting the affected communities or their leaders. He expressed concerns about the potential displacement of residents along the proposed sand mining route from Kokilai to Alampil and Theerthakarai, warning that such actions could spark widespread protests. “Some people work on the beach. The motive is to put an end to their occupations. If these departments try to interfere with our livelihood, we will not allow it. We will have to gather tens of thousands of people and protest,” he stated.

Local media reported that officials from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Lanka Mineral Sands Limited, Wildlife Conservation Department, Central Environment Authority, Irrigation Department, Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, as well as the land officer from the Maritimepattu Provincial Secretariat and the Grama Niladhari, ultimately left the area due to public opposition.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of land conflicts in the North-East, where Tamil residents have repeatedly protested against government attempts to demarcate and occupy public land. The ongoing tensions reflect deep-seated grievances over land rights and the preservation of local livelihoods in a region still grappling with the aftermath of conflict, with the Sri Lankan military still occupying swathes of land across the Tamil homeland. 

The legal battle involving Mullaitivu Media Association President and Mullaitivu District Journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan continues in Sri Lankan courts, with the next hearing scheduled for October this year. During today’s court session, the Sri Lankan naval officer who accused Thavaseelan of assault was cross-examined, but no verdict was reached, and the case was postponed.

Earlier this month, Sri Lankan police in Mankulam summoned Thavaseelan for interrogation, an indication that harassment of Tamil journalists by the security forces continues. On August 7, police officers visited Thavaseelan’s home when he was not present and handed the summons to his family, instructing him to report to the office of the Assistant Superintendent of Police at Mankulam Police Station to provide a statement for an investigation. Thavaseelan has faced harassment, intimidation, and violence on multiple occasions due to his work.

This court case, which has been ongoing for several months, centers around dubious allegations made by the Sri Lankan naval intelligence officer from the Gotabaya Naval Base in Mullaitivu. On April 7, 2019, Thavaseelan was covering a rally held by Tamil families of the Disappeared in Mullaitivu. During the protest, an unidentified individual was seen filming and threatening the families of the disappeared and members of the press.

Thavaseelan intervened, questioning the individual about his identity and his reasons for recording the demonstration on his phone. Following this confrontation, the individual fled but was later apprehended by protesters, at which point he admitted to being a naval officer. Despite requests, Sri Lankan police did not arrive at the scene. Subsequently, the naval officer filed a complaint with the Sri Lankan police in Mullaitivu against Thavaseelan under false pretenses, leading to Thavaseelan's arrest. He was later released on bail after a public outcry.

Previously the case has seen multiple hearings, with the naval officer failing to appear. Despite summons, the officer remained absent, leading to a warrant for both the officer and his witness.  Locals described the case against Thaavaseelan as “frivolous and devoid of merit and nothing but an act of vendetta”.

The Sri Lankan government is continuing to persecute Tamil families of the disappeared, said Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a release this morning.

Referring to the Sri Lankan government's latest attempt to suppress the voices of the Families of the Disappeared who were protesting across the homeland today, HRW noted that the Sri Lankan state, through its actions, continues to "resist any progress to address the terrible legacy of enforced disappearances, and instead compounds the anguish of victims’ families."

Earlier today, on a day when Eelam Tamils across the homeland held protests and demonstrations to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, the Sri Lanka Police in Trincomalee obtained a court order to halt demonstrations by Tamil families. According to Ambika Satkunathan, former Human Rights Commissioner of Sri Lanka, the Trincomalee police claimed that the demonstrations would "create conflict between ethnicities, disturb the peace, and pose a threat to security."

“The relatives of the disappeared experience the daily torment of not knowing what happened to their family members, which state agencies have cruelly compounded by trying to silence them,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at HRW. “Hundreds of mothers, wives, and others have passed away without learning what happened to their loved ones, and many more fear they might not live to see justice done.”

Human Rights Watch highlighted today's incident, where the actions of the Sri Lankan police demonstrated a persistent crackdown on protests and deliberate efforts to persecute the families of victims of enforced disappearances who seek justice. "Security forces persistently harass families through surveillance, intimidation, false allegations, violence, and arbitrary arrests."

The Families of the Disappeared have faced ongoing harassment and routine intimidation by Sri Lanka's security forces. Despite this, they have remained resolute in their campaign for justice.

Since 2017, Tamil families have been protesting across the North-East to uncover the truth about their loved ones.

The full statement from the HRW can be found here.

Tamil Fest, an annual street festival organised by the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) to celebrate Tamil culture and identity, was marred by controversy, after protests demanded the organisation apologise for meeting with accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka last year.

In the run up to the festival several community and student groups had called for a boycott of CTC, citing the organisation’s involvement with the Sri Lankan government-approved ‘Himalaya Declaration’ initiative and subsequent meeting with Rajapaksa. The move triggered outrage last year, with widespread condemnation from the Tamil diaspora who called it a ‘betrayal beyond belief’.

With controversy over CTC swirling, several vendors withdrew their participation from Tamil Fest in the days leading to the festival, whilst a few even pulled out on the day itself. Major vendors, such as Vijaya Jewellers, a title sponsor, were amongst those to withdraw their support. Many of those who did so complained that CTC refused to issue refunds.

“By proceeding with this event amidst widespread calls for accountability and reform, the CTC has chosen to ignore the community’s concerns, risking unnecessary conflict and division,” said the Canadian Tamil Collective.

As the festival gates opened, protestors stood at the entrance and by the main stage, demanding a boycott.

Tamil Nadu playback singer Srinivas, who controversially performed in Colombo last year and took a song request from Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe, also had to cut his scheduled performance at Tamil Fest short, when the stage was pelted with eggs as he stepped out on to it.

Several thousand people did attend the festival, which takes place in Toronto, home to the largest Eelam Tamil diaspora population outside of the island. Attendees however confirmed that the numbers were significantly smaller than in previous years.

“I had the privilege of witnessing the protests on social media and in person over the course of the weekend," Darshika Selvasivam, a community organiser, told the Tamil Guardian. "Considering the pain and anguish people continue to feel, as a result of being silenced, the protests were creative, impactful and responsibly organized." 

"It is the responsibility of any organizer to de-escalate conflict and ensure participants are able to safely engage in acts of civil disobedience. The protest at Tamil Fest continued to achieve their goal of holding the Canadian Tamil Congress accountable for Genocide denial, and urging the Congress to respond to the demands of the Canadian Tamil Collective.”

^{A post from CTC's Facebook Page.}

In an attempt to dampen the protests, CTC sent out a press release on its Instagram account stating that it recognises the genocide of the Tamil people and that it has formally withdrawn its support for the Himalayan Declaration.

On their Facebook page they went on to post photographs from Tamil Fest, including of the Tamil Eelam flag and map placed on one of the stalls at the festival. Tamil Eelam songs were also played on loudspeakers throughout the festival grounds.

^{A vendor at Tamil Fest.}

“Actions by the CTC with regards to the Himalayan Declaration and the posing for photographs by a member of the CTC with former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, the man ultimately responsible for the genocide of our Tamil people, were a great mistake,” said CTC president Kumar Ratnam at the festival.

“The impact of these decisions on our community is immeasurable. As a member and as a Tamil I can understand the pain that has been brought back to you due to these wrong decisions. As the president of CTC I wholeheartedly ask for forgiveness from the Tamil community for the mistakes made by us. I also pledge that mistakes like these will not happen in future.”

The apology however has not quelled the anger of the Tamil Canadian community and leaves the future of the festival in the balance.

“By embracing the boycott and participating in the protest. Tamil Canadians have sent a clear message against individuals or organizations betraying Tamil people by colluding with the genocidal Sri Lankan state, in undermining the aspirations of the Tamil people,” said the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT). “Tamil Canadians will exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms to expose them and hold them accountable.”

“Until such time the CTC publicly accepts all their acts of betrayal committed against the Tamil people since 2009 and those involved are publicly held accountable, we urge everyone to continue to boycott the CTC and all its activities.”

^{(Image courtesy: Rajeevkanth Facebook Post)}

Rajkumar Rajeevkanth, an activist from the People's Struggle Alliance—a breakaway group from the Aragalaya—was arrested earlier today in Trincomalee by Sri Lankan police. He was participating in protests organized by the Tamil Families of the Disappeared, who were staging demonstrations across the North-East to mark the International Day of the Disappeared.

Despite being alone and unarmed, Rajeevkanth was forcibly escorted by police, including members of the riot squad.

Footage shows Rajeevkanth being forced into a police jeep from the occupying Trincomalee Police Station before being taken away. Posting on his personal Facebook account in Tamil, Rajeevkanth expressed his long-standing support for the Families of the Disappeared. "When this protest crossed 2000 days, I joined many who marched from Colombo. I even participated in last month’s protest," he wrote. "Arrests are not uncommon, and I have been facing legal cases for more than two years."

Rajeevkanth also shared his negative experiences in prison. Regarding today’s arrest, he noted that he had a verbal confrontation with the police when he asserted his right to protest. "When they tried to attack me, I stepped back. They later arrested me, claiming that I was the one who tried to attack them."

He highlighted that this is not the first time false allegations have been made against him in an attempt to secure his arrest. He credited his mother for preventing him from being jailed for 14 days, as she refused to leave his side until he was released. He also thanked his lawyers, Aishwariya and Prashanthini, who supported him during his ordeal. 

Sri Lankan police in Trincomalee have been granted a court order to halt demonstrations by Tamil families of the disappeared on International Day of the Disappeared today, in another blow to Tamil victim-survivors.

According to Ambika Satkunathan, former Human Rights Commissioner of Sri Lanka, the Trincomalee police claimed that the demonstrations would "create conflict between ethnicities, disturb the peace and is a threat to security." 

The original and signed court order in Tamil does not list persons who are banned from participating in the procession. However, the unsigned Sinhala translated version includes a list of persons banned from the demonstrations, stated Satkunathan on X. 

Sri Lanka is home to the world's second-highest number of enforced disappearances, according to UN figures.

The occupying police force in Jaffna also sought a similar court order attempting to halt demonstrations by the Family of the Disappeared tomorrow but failed. 

In their court order, police cited section 69 of the Presidential Elections Act. This act "prohibits processions during the period commencing on the day of nomination to 1 week after the poll result is declared." The Jaffna police claimed that the "procession would also disturb the peace and due to visit of Sajith Premadasa and Nallur festival they didn't have officers to deploy." However, after the court heard from the Families of the Disappeared, they ruled the demonstrations were "for a social purpose," stated Satkunathan. 

Last week, in a press conference, the North-East Families of the Disappeared called on individuals to join them on 30 August, stating, "We are reiterating that justice should be delivered to the perpetrators of genocide through an international investigation. We remind the Sri Lankan government that our struggle for liberation and justice and our search for our children will never be suppressed by the Sri Lankan government and that our struggle will continue until justice is achieved." 

According to the UN report, in 1996, 11,513 people were reported as disappeared. According to the report of the Asian Human Rights Commission in 1996, 16,742 persons were missing. However, Sri Lankan human rights activists believe this number might be double.

The Families of the Disappeared have faced continuous harassment and have been subject to routine harassment and intimidation by Sri Lanka's security forces. Despite the harassment, they have been brazen in their campaign for justice. Since 2017, Tamil families have been protesting across the North-East to find the truth about their loved ones.