Tamil nation defies Sri Lankan state to mark Tamil Genocide Day

18 May 2021

Vigils and memorials to the tens of thousands massacred by the Sri Lankan state at Mullivaikkal have taken place across the Tamil homeland, despite an onslaught by the Sri Lankan state in recent days to prevent commemorations.

Sri Lankan army locks down Mullaitivu on eve of Tamil Genocide commemorations

Although the Sri Lankan army locked down several areas of Mullaitivu in order to prevent access to Mullivaikkal and the sites of the massacres, flames were lit on the beach and at the Nandikadal lagoon.

Flame lit at Mullivaikkal in defiance of crackdown

Tamil politicians defy ban to commemorate Mullivaikkal 

Dozens of army soldiers and police officers were deployed to the locality of the University of Jaffna campus last night to prevent any gatherings. However some students bypassed the surveillance to light a flame at the recently-built Mullivaikkal monument on campus. The incident sparked two arrests.

Arrests after Jaffna Uni students remember Mullivaikkal despite heavy army and police presence

 

The TMTK MP C. V. Wigneswaran led a private vigil at the party office in Jaffna.

C.V. Wigneswaran commemorates Mullivaikal at party office

A group of lawmakers from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) marked Tamil Genocide Day at the Sri Lankan parliament complex in Kotte this morning, before a parliamentary session was due to take place.

TNA MPs mark Tamil Genocide Day at Sri Lanka’s parliament