The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung is visiting Jaffna at a time when the Sri Lankan government has increased its crackdown on Mullivaikkal commemorations across the Tamil homeland. “This week I’m back in Jaffna to listen to diverse perspectives from civil society, youth, local officials and religious leaders to explore avenues for continued U.S. collaboration and support for Sri Lankans in the Northern Province,” she tweeted. This week I’m back in Jaffna to listen to diverse perspectives from civil society, youth, local officials and religious leaders to explore avenues for continued...
The 39th anniversary of the Kumuthini boat massacre was solemnly observed on Delft island today, as people gathered to remember the 36 Tamils who were killed by Sri Lankan naval officers. On May 15 1985, six plain-clothed Navy officers boarded the boat and pointed a gun at passengers before ordering them to come up to the main deck one by one and shout their name and destination. Each passenger was then hacked to death. The commemoration took place at a monument on Delft island that is dedicated to the victims. Religious observances were held at the St. Xavier Church and Veerapathra Pillaiyar...
Events were held in Thirunavakulam, Vavuniya and Karaithivu, Batticaloa, to mark the fourth day of Tamil Genocide Remembrance week as Tamils around the world commemorate 15 years since the Tamil genocide. Across the North-East, kanji is being distributed in the lead 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 was the only source of sustenance for Tamils as they fled the...
Sri Lanka police blocked Tamil families of the disappeared in Batticaloa from distributing Mullivaikkal kanji to mark the third day of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week. The organisers which included family members, relatives, and members of the Christian church were threatened by police yesterday for trying to commemorare the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred at the hands of the Sri Lankan state. The Sri Lankan police sent away individuals who came to drink the kanji. Dozens of officers surrounded the activists as they attempted to prepare and distribute Mullivaikkal Kanji, a tradition...
Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne attending the Russian Victory Day ceremony at the Russian Cultural Centre in Colombo this week Accused war criminal and acting defence secretary Kamal Gunarate was the chief guest at the Victory Day ceremony held at the Russian embassy in Colombo last week. Gunaratne, former commander of the notorious 53 Division of Sri Lanka’s army , stands accused of leading campaigns which slaughtered tens of thousands of Tamil civilians. His unit is further accused of engaging in sexual violence, summary executions, and the disappearance of those who surrendered to the...
File photograph Today marks 39 years since 36 Tamils were massacred by Sri Lankan Navy officers on board the Kumuthini boat on May 15, 1985. Eye witnesses reported seeing six plain clothed Navy officers boarding the Kumuthini boat and pointing a gun at passengers before ordering them to come up to the main deck one by one and shout their name and destination. The names of those who lost their lives in the Kumuthini boat massacre Each passenger was then hacked to death. Witnesses reported seeing hacked body parts and blood across the deck. Amnesty International identified 23 of the victims and...
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) leader and MP Sivagnanam Shritharan called the actions of Sri Lankan police who arrested four Tamils earlier this week for preparing Mullivaikkal Kanji ‘despicable’ and ‘inhumane’ adding that their arrests were unwarranted and illegal. “The police officers both men and women from the Muttur police station behaved like animals,” he said speaking in Sri Lanka's parliament. “It is shameful that they dragged the women away, while the women screamed helplessly and their families watched in horror. They were taken to the police station in the same clothing they had...
The US President Joe Biden’s nominee for Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Elizabeth K. Horst, says that if confirmed she will support members of "marginalized populations, accountability, truth and reconciliation, and transparency and justice in Sri Lanka". Horst made the remarks appearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday. Her full statement can be found here . Speaking further, she said she would focus on "three main pillars of the US - Sri Lanka relationship: broadening economic cooperation, bolstering security interests, and deepening our ties with Sri Lanka’s diverse...
Day 3 of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week is being marked in Jaffna today, with a blood donation drive at the University of Jaffna while a memorial float travels through the region. During May 12th - 18th, also known as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week, Tamils in the North-East and the diaspora hold various memorial events to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamils who were massacred at the hands of Sri Lanka's armed forces in 2009. The Jaffna University Student Union organised a blood donation drive for students and staff today. Meanwhile, a memorial float dedicated to the victims of the...
Sri Lankan police deployed the paramilitary Special Task Force in Amparai to threaten Tamil women activists with arrest if they distributed a rice porridge dish today, following a court order to clamp down on Tamil Genocide commemoration events.