Commemorative events marking the 17th anniversary of the Tamil genocide were held in Batticaloa today.
A remembrance event organised by the North-East Coordination Committee was held at Gandhi Park in Batticaloa, where victim-survivors of the massacre, social activists and representatives of civil organisations gathered to honour those killed during the final stages of the war in Mullivaikkal.
Participants lit memorial flames and paid floral tributes and silent respects in remembrance of the victims of the Mullivaikkal massacre. The event was held in a sombre and emotional atmosphere as attendees reflected on the mass atrocities committed against Tamils in 2009.
Meanwhile, a separate commemorative event titled 'Uyirkaatha Kanji' - kanji that saved lives- was held at the Veerakathy Pillaiyar Temple in Kathiraveli, Batticaloa.
The event, organised by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), sought to recall the suffering endured by Tamils trapped in Mullivaikkal during the final months of the war, where tens of thousands faced starvation and daily bombardment by Sri Lanka's military.
Organisers said the symbolic distribution of Kanji was not merely a ceremonial act, but a deeply emotional remembrance reflecting the pain, history and resilience of the Tamil people during the 2009 genocide.
