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Events took place across the Tamil homeland today to mark 16 years since tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred by Sri Lanka in a genocide at Mullivaikkal.

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A complete human skeleton has been unearthed during excavation works at the Sindhubath Hindu cremation grounds in Chemmani, Jaffna, intensifying suspicions that the site may be the location of a mass grave dating back to the mid-1990s, a period marked by extensive Sri Lankan military operations across the Tamil homeland.
A commemoration event to mark the massacres at Mullivaikkal was held at Wellawatte beach in Colombo on May 18, but faced a heavy Sri Lankan police presence and opposition from the Sinhala nationalist Sinhala Ravaya group.
Speaking at a remembrance event held in Neduntheevu to mark the 40th anniversary of the Kumuthini massacre, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament M.A. Sumanthiran condemned continued genocide denial by senior Sri Lankan politicians
Various members of Congress in the United States marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day on the social media platform 'X' today. Renewed calls for justice, accountability, and recognition were made, with calls for involvement from the international community and emphasis on Tamil self-determination.
Congresswoman Summer Lee, representative for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, issued the following statement:
"Today I stand with Eelam Tamils worldwide in remembering the victims of Sri Lanka's state-sanctioned genocide. 16 years later, justice is still denied.
The U.S. and global community must recognise this atrocity, support Tamil self-determination, and hold perpetrators accountable."
A banner displayed during Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorations in Mullivaikkal yesterday honoured Tamil Canadians and Patrick Brown Mayor of Brampton, following the recent inauguration of a Tamil Genocide Monument in the Canadian city.
The banner, prominently placed near the Mullivaikkal memorial, featured a photograph of Mayor Brown speaking at a podium, alongside images of the newly unveiled monument. The tribute, written in both Tamil and English, expressed appreciation for his support in recognising the genocide committed against Tamils by the Sri Lankan state in May 2009.
It read:
Marking the 16th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal massacre, Tamil organisations in the Netherlands held a memorial event at Dam Square in Amsterdam, on 18 May 2025, in remembrance of the tens of thousands of Tamil killed during the 2009 genocide.
The 16th annual commemoration of Tamil Genocide Day was held on 18 May 2025 at the Fickling Convention Centre in Three Kings, Auckland, where hundreds gathered to honour the memory of those killed in the Mullivaikkal massacre and to reaffirm calls for justice and accountability.
The event began at 6:30 p.m., bringing together members of diaspora and representatives from a wide range of organisations and solidarity groups. The commemoration served as a powerful platform for remembrance, reflection, and continued advocacy on behalf of the Tamil nation.
Image: Smiles Photography
The Tamil community in Ottawa gathered on May 18th to commemorate Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day in an event jointly organised by the Ottawa Tamil Association, National Capital Region Tamil Association, Ottawa Tamil Academy of Culture and Technology, Ottawa Tamil Seniors Association, and Tamil Genocide Memorial.
The event held at the Fred Barrett Arena began with a land acknowledgement, the Canadian national anthem, and the Thamil Mozhi Valththu. Over 150 attendees in the capital observed a moment of silence to commemorate the lives lost during the Tamil Genocide.
Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake will now attend Sri Lanka’s 16th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony as the chief guest, the government confirmed on Sunday, following backlash over earlier reports that he would not participate in the state-sponsored event.
As commemorations of the 2009 genocide continue to grow, Colombo’s denialism remains firmly intact. The NPP’s actions, mirroring those of its predecessors, reveal a political establishment still unwilling to confront the truth.
Latest Headlines
Speaking at a remembrance event held in Neduntheevu to mark the 40th anniversary of the Kumuthini massacre, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament M.A. Sumanthiran condemned continued genocide denial by senior Sri Lankan politicians
A complete human skeleton has been unearthed during excavation works at the Sindhubath Hindu cremation grounds in Chemmani, Jaffna, intensifying suspicions that the site may be the location of a mass grave dating back to the mid-1990s, a period marked by extensive Sri Lankan military operations across the Tamil homeland.
A commemoration event to mark the massacres at Mullivaikkal was held at Wellawatte beach in Colombo on May 18, but faced a heavy Sri Lankan police presence and opposition from the Sinhala nationalist Sinhala Ravaya group.
A banner displayed during Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorations in Mullivaikkal yesterday honoured Tamil Canadians and Patrick Brown Mayor of Brampton, following the recent inauguration of a Tamil Genocide Monument in the Canadian city.
As commemorations of the 2009 genocide continue to grow, Colombo’s denialism remains firmly intact. The NPP’s actions, mirroring those of its predecessors, reveal a political establishment still unwilling to confront the truth.
Various members of Congress in the United States marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day on the social media platform 'X' today. Renewed calls for justice, accountability, and recognition were made, with calls for involvement from the international community and emphasis on Tamil self-determination.
Congresswoman Summer Lee, representative for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, issued the following statement:
"Today I stand with Eelam Tamils worldwide in remembering the victims of Sri Lanka's state-sanctioned genocide. 16 years later, justice is still denied.
Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake will now attend Sri Lanka’s 16th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony as the chief guest, the government confirmed on Sunday, following backlash over earlier reports that he would not participate in the state-sponsored event.
The 16th annual commemoration of Tamil Genocide Day was held on 18 May 2025 at the Fickling Convention Centre in Three Kings, Auckland, where hundreds gathered to honour the memory of those killed in the Mullivaikkal massacre and to reaffirm calls for justice and accountability.
Image: Smiles Photography
The Tamil community in Ottawa gathered on May 18th to commemorate Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day in an event jointly organised by the Ottawa Tamil Association, National Capital Region Tamil Association, Ottawa Tamil Academy of Culture and Technology, Ottawa Tamil Seniors Association, and Tamil Genocide Memorial.
Marking the 16th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal massacre, Tamil organisations in the Netherlands held a memorial event at Dam Square in Amsterdam, on 18 May 2025, in remembrance of the tens of thousands of Tamil killed during the 2009 genocide.
Hundreds of Tamils living around the coastal town of Southend-on-Sea in England gathered on a beach at dusk on 17 May to remember their loved ones who perished in the Mullivaikkal genocide 16 years ago.
The usual noise and party atmosphere of Shoebury East Beach was replaced by quiet reflection, floral tributes, memorial speeches, as well as songs and poems by children, culminating in the mass release of hundreds of biodegradable floating memorial lanterns into the sea.
Events took place across the Tamil homeland today to mark 16 years since tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred by Sri Lanka in a genocide at Mullivaikkal.
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