• Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day Commemorated in Ottawa

    May 20

    On 18 May, Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day was jointly commemorated by the Ottawa Tamil Association (OTA), the National Capital Region Tamil Association (NCRTA), the University of Ottawa Tamil Student Union (TSU), Ottawa Tamil Academy of Culture & Technology (OTACT), Canada Muththamizh Sangam,  Carleton University Tamil Student Association (CUTSA), Ottawa Tamil Seniors Association (OTSA), and Tamil Genocide Memorial (TGM). 

    The event at the Walter Baker Sports Center in Ottawa was opened with a Land acknowledgment, the Canadian National Anthem, and the Thamil Mozhi Valththu. 

    Attendees participated in a prayer and a moment of silence in remembrance of the lives lost in the Tamil genocide. 

    Speaking at the event, MP Gary Anandasangaree highlighted the resilience of the Tamil community. He notes that it is the Tamil people's relentless pursuit of justice that has forced the international community to pass UN resolutions to hold the Sri Lankan government accountable. 

    Anandasangaree continued that the Tamil community stands more united and stronger today. 

    The book "Ina Alippin - Porin Satchiyam" translated as Unyielding Witness of a Genocidal War by Mr. Suren Karthikesu, a photographer, journalist, and witness to the Tamil Genocide was introduced at the event. The book illustrates the continued dehumanization, persecution, polarization, and discrimination of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

    Various organizations also took to the stage. In their speech, the TSU recounted the history of the Tamil struggle for liberation in Sri Lanka.

    Speeches and poems by the NCRTA reflected on the memories of Tamils lost in 2009 and the long continuous journey for justice.

    The OTSA spoke about the current land grabs by the Sri Lankan state in the Tamil homeland. Tamils across the homeland have resisted numerous attempts by Sri Lanka to acquire land which forms part of the state's efforts to alter the demography of the North-East. 

    Mulivaikkal Kanji was served to attendees at the event, a commemorative gesture to honour the memory of those who perished and the hardship faced by survivors in the final days of the genocide.

    The event was attended by over 150 participants. 

     

     

     

  • Heavy police presence as Sinhalese attempt to disturb Mullivaikkal commemoration in Colombo

    Dozens of Sri Lankan police officers were deployed and one man was carried away by officers as several Sinhalese individuals attempted to disrupt a Mullivaikkal commemoration in Wellawatta, Colombo on Saturday morning, May 18. 

    “Why are you allowing them to celebrate the LTTE,” shouted one man, as he was being carried away by police officers. He was trying to pass on to the site where several individuals had gathered to mark 15 years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal.

    Several others also attempted to disrupt the commemoration and were reportedly turned away by Sri Lankan police.

    (Image courtesy: Tracy Holsinger) 

    The event saw several activists including Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of forcibly disappeared journalist and human rights activist Prageeth Ekneligoda, father Lionel, demand justice for the forcibly disappeared and the thousands who died during the armed conflict at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces. 

    Wellawatta is a suburb of Colombo with a significant Tamil population and a high presence of Tamil homes and businesses.

    Tamils have repeatedly called the events at Mullivaikkal a genocide, a term that is being increasingly recognised when it comes to Sri Lanka's abuse of the Tamil people. Canada's parliament has recognised May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.

  • In Pictures - Tamils mourn victims 15 years after genocide at Mullivaikkal

    All photographs courtesy of Kumanan Kanapathipillai

    Thousands of Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal memorial yard to mourn their loved ones who were massacred in Sri Lanka's military offensive in 2009. 

  • Sri Lanka’s killing fields cast a long shadow'

    Writing on the anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, Madura Rasaratnam, Interim Executive Director of PEARL & Ambikai Akilan, Advocacy Officer of PEARL, detail the need to hold Sri Lanka accountable for the war crimes committed in 2009. These crimes continue to afflict the island and Sri Lanka provides a useful lesson for the Israel-Gaza conflict, the piece maintains.

    In their piece, they reflect on 2009 massacres and the similarities with current conflict in Gaza. Sri Lanka is accused of a litany of war crimes during this period which includes the deliberate targeting of “no fire zones”, food distribution centres and hospitals. The International Truth and Justice Project estimates that as many as 169,796 Tamils were killed.

    The article notes that following the end of this brutal campaign, Sri Lanka “has consistently and vehemently rejected international demands for meaningful accountability and has also refused to implement political changes that would ensure real political equality for the Tamils and address the root causes of the conflict”.

    The piece further details the heavy militarisation of the Tamil homeland, with “five out of seven of the army’s regional commands are stationed in the northern and eastern provinces and in some districts, there is one soldier for every two civilians”. They also detail the Sri Lankan military’s ongoing participation in the process of “Sinhalisation” and “Buddhisation”.

    “Military personnel exercise a constant surveillance of everyday Tamil social, cultural and political activities that has a chilling effect on everyday life and makes meaningless any talk of ‘reconciliation’ or even a return to ‘normalcy’”, the piece notes.

    The authors go on to explain how these tools of oppression are now being used to crush protests in the Sinhala South as well as to persecute Muslims and Christians. 

    The piece concludes stressing that:

    “Remembering and effectively addressing the Vanni atrocities is not just about the past, it is also about the future. Most immediately, it is about Sri Lanka’s future. But it is also about re-building and securing the viability and integrity of international humanitarian law and the possibility of securing genuine and lasting peace, security and prosperity”.

    Read the full piece here.

     
  • Tamils rally in Sydney on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

     

    A rally, organised by the Tamil Refugee Council, took place in Sydney Australia to mark 15 years since the Tamil genocide. 

    The rally ended outside Sydney Town Hall where a series of speakers spoke about the 2009 genocide in Mullivaikkal. 

    Amongst the speakers was Nila, a Mullivaikkal survivor. Nila, who was only 9 years old, recounted the tragic events in 2009. 

    Senator David Shoebridge also spoke at the rally and called for justice for the massacres at Mullivaikkal. 

    See more photographs from the rally below:

  • Kanji distributed in Trincomalee to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

    Tamils distrbuted kanji outside Trincomalee Uvarmalai Vidu Vinayagar temple to mark 15 years since the genocide at Mullivaikkal. 

  • Sri Lankan military promotes thousands as Tamils mourn Mullivaikkal genocide

    The Sri Lankan military has promoted nearly 4,500 military personnel as Tamils in the North-East nation mourned the massacres of tens of thousands of Tamil by the same armed forces this week.

    The Sri Lanka Navy promoted 3,146 senior and junior sailors from the Regular and Voluntary Forces while the army announced the promotion of 1,509 personnel, as Colombo marked what was known as ‘Victory Day’ until 2015. Sri Lanka now calls it National War Heroes Commemoration Day and it is dedicated to the Sri Lankan military.

    The promotions have been approved by Sri Lanka’s Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kamal Gunaratne who stands accused of war crimes.

    Gunaratne along with President Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva who sanctions the promotions, stand accused of overseeing a genocide against the Tamil people with an estimated 169,796 people slaughtered during the final phase of the armed conflict.

    Gunaratne was commander of the army’s infamous 53 Division during the 2009 massacres, and allegedly oversaw numerous abuses, including sexual violence, summary executions and the disappearance of those who surrendered to the military.

    Whilst the promotions were announced, Eelam Tamils in the North-East and around the world marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, as they paid tribute to those killed by the military.

  • ‘Sri Lanka failed its war veterans’ claims Sajith Premadasa

    On the anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, Sri Lanka’s opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, has issued a statement criticising the government for failing their “war heroes”.

    In his statement, Premadasa noted hundreds of former Sri Lankan soldiers have left to for and against the Russian army on the front lines in Ukraine, amidst Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

    Sri Lanka economic development has been marred by a militarisation that has corroded Sri Lanka’s civil society. Over 30 agencies are under the remit of the Ministry of Defence. 

    The military oversees a litany of operations, including airports, seaports, customs, utilities, agriculture, fisheries, land development, wildlife protection, the country’s bribery commission, and even its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Tamils have consistently called for the demilitarisation of the island and to restraint the influence of Sri Lanka’s inflated military.

    Premadas’s remarks come on the anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide in which Sri Lanka’s military engage in a litany of war crimes including the indiscriminate shelling of “no fire zones”, summary executions and mass rape. The International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka (ITJP) estimates that as many as 169,796 people were killed during this final stage of the campaign.

    Premadasa has rejected these allegations and opposed an international inquiry into these crimes. His party has also welcomed Sri Lankan miliary officials implicated in war crimes, such as Chief of Defence Staff Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage. Liyanage stands accused of overseeing the Mullivaikkal genocide a decade ago, as head of the army’s Task Force 3, during the Sri Lanka military’s 2009 offensive.

    In his remarks, Premadasa stated:

    "I am committed to providing leadership to ensure that, starting this year, the war hero community in our country receives the support they deserve".

    Read more here.

  • Danish Tamils commemorate Tamil genocide Remembrance day

    Tamils in Denmark held a march at the Copenhagen City Hall and public square of Kongens Nytorv in memory of Mullivaikkal genocide on May 18, commemorating the tens of thousands massacred by the Sri Lankan state.

    Tamils carried the Tamil Eelam flag while laying Karthigaipoo on tombstones bearing photographs of the children who were massacred during the war. 

     

  • Tamils in Washington D.C. commemorate Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

    Tamils in Washington D.C. organised an event in memory of the Mullivaikkal genocide at the Murugan Temple of North America on May 18, as events around the world marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. 

    The event was an interfaith spiritual commemorative event dedicated to honouring all the lives that were lost and disappeared during the Mullivaikkal massacres 15 years ago.

    The event started with a video of the Mullivaikkal commemoration in Mullaitivu which had taken place just a few hours earlier, followed by opening remarks delivered by event organiser Niraj Suresh. He touched upon the importance of remembering the dead from a Hindu perspective while Divy Kangeyan spoke on the significance of the Mullivaikkal commemoration. 

    The event also saw the gathering recite the Tamil Saivite Hindu prayers while Niraj and Divy led the chanting of the Sivapuranam. Rev. Jude Sudarshan Mahendran who also spoke at the event delivered recorded remarks on the importance of remembering the dead from a Christian perspective. Grace Pushparany Williams, the president of the United States Tamil Action Group, spoke on the importance of Tamil human rights advocacy.

    A compilation of documentary clips covering the history of the ethnic conflict from 1948 to the present was played to educate attendees about the persecution of Tamils, while Iniya Ravikumar, a student at Virginia Tech who recently ttravelled to the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva to speak about the current human rights challenges faced by Tamils, delivered recorded remarks about the significance of Mullivaikkal kanji. 

    The event took place alongside others around the world to mark 15 years since the genocide at Mullivaikkal.

  • In Pictures - Tamils in London march to Downing Street calling for justice for Mullivaikkal

    Thousands of Tamils gathered in London on Saturday to mark the 15th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, a somber occasion remembering the tragic events that transpired in May 2009. The events called for justice and the recognition of Eelam Tamil self-determination, with a significant turnout demonstrating the ongoing demand for accountability and recognition of the atrocities faced by the Tamil community.

    A rally organised by Tamil Coordinating Committee UK (TCC UK) and Tamil Youth Organisation UK (TYO UK) saw Tamils march from London’s Parliament Square towards Downing Street, the official residence of the UK Prime Minister. Protesters carried placards with messages such as ‘Tamil Eelam is the only solution,’ ‘End Sinhala settlements,’ ‘End militarisation,’ and ‘Free Tamil Eelam,’ highlighting the ongoing political demands and grievances of the Tamil community.

    In a symbolic gesture, the Director of TYOUK, Barbara Rajan, hoisted the flag of the United Kingdom, while the national flag of Tamil Eelam was raised by Newton, the coordinator of the TCC UK. The Tamil Eelam flag song resonated in the air as the flags were hoisted outside Downing Street.

    Survivors of the Mullivaikkal genocide laid flowers at a symbolic monument set up in front of Downing Street. This poignant act of remembrance was followed by various cultural performances, including poetry readings in Tamil and English, and rousing dance performances.

    The event also featured a memorial art competition, with prizes awarded to the winners, reflecting the community’s commitment to honouring the past through creative expression. Attendees were served kanji, a simple rice gruel, which has come to symbolise the starvation wrought upon the victims of Mullivaikkal in May 2009.

    A later rally was held at London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF). The event featured cultural performances, as well as serving kanji and the erection of an informative exhibition on the various challenges faced by Eelam Tamils at the hands of the Sri Lankan state.

    Dozens of dancers also took part in a performance at Trafalgar Square. 

    See a video of the performance below.

  • UK and Switzerland reiterate support for ‘truth and justice’ but do not mention Tamils

    As Tamils around the world marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the British High Commission and Swiss Ambassador in Colombo released statements reiterating support for “truth and justice”.

    “15 years on, we remember those who died and disappeared during the conflict in Sri Lanka, including families still searching for their loved ones, tweeted the British High Commission in Colombo. “Reconciliation is possible only when meaningful progress is made on truth and justice, and the right to remember is respected.”

    Swiss Ambassador Siri Walt said, “we remember all victims and stand in solidarity with those still seeking truth and justice”.

    “Switzerland remains committed to support Sri Lanka to deal with this violent past, prevent recurrence and work towards sustainable peace and reconciliation.”

    Neither statement mentioned the word Tamil.

    As many as 169,679 Tamils were killed by a Sri Lankan military offensive 15 years ago. May 18th is commemorated as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day in the North-East and around the world.

     

  • United States ‘stands in solidarity with all Sri Lankans’ on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

    The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka sent out a tweet stating her government “stands in solidarity with all Sri Lankans” as Tamils around the world marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, commemorating the tens of thousands massacred by the Sri Lankan state 15 years ago.

    Julie Chung said the US government is “reflecting on the resilience and hope for a united future”.

    “We remain a steadfast partner to the Sri Lankan people,” she added, “including those who continue seeking justice, equal rights, and access to opportunities”.

    Her tweet comes as Tamils, the ethnic group that was slaughtered by the Sri Lankan state, held remembrance ceremonies across the island and around the world. To date, there has still been no accountability for the killings.

    Despite the lack of progress on accountability, and continued human rights abuses, the US military has been building closer ties with Sri Lanka. Just three days ago, whilst Tamils were preparing to commemorate the genocide Chung met with the naval commander in charge of occupying forces in the North.

  • Tamils in Switzerland commemorate Mullivaikkal genocide

    Tamils held a remembrance event in Zurich and Bern to mark 15 years since the Tamil genocide at the shores of Mullivaikkal. 

    500 people attended the remembrance event at the Helvetiaplatz, where Tamil activists and Mullivaikkal survivors spoke about their experiences and the future of the Tamil struggle. 

    15 years ago, Eelam Tamils in Switzerland gathered at the same place to commemorate the Tamil genocide and vow to continue the Tamil struggle in the face of Sinhala Buddhist oppression. 

    Fabian Molina MP, who attended the event in Zurich, said that there needs to be international accountability and self-determination for Eelam Tamils. 



    Kurdish, Palestinian, Swiss, Brazilian, Cameroonian and Roma activists joined the event in solidarity with the Tamil people. 

     

  • Swiss MPs call for international accountability on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

    Swiss MPs have called for Sri Lanka to be held internationally accountable for the crimes it committed during the Tamil genocide in Mullivaikkal 15 years go. 

    Fabian Molina MP, of the Social Democratic Party said that "Switzerland must do more to ensure that these serious crimes are dealt with internationally."  Speaking at a remembrance event in Zurich, Molina said that the Tamil people have the right to self-determination.  

     

     

     

    Claudia Friedl, another Social Democratic Party MP said that "Switzerland and its partners must set an example so that violations of international law never go unpunished."

     

     

     

     

     

Subscribe to Tamil Affairs