Jaffna University students replace Sri Lanka's flag with Black Flag

"Independence Day for Tamils is the day our homeland becomes free", say Jaffna university students as they take down the Sri Lankan lion flag.
"Independence Day for Tamils is the day our homeland becomes free", say Jaffna university students as they take down the Sri Lankan lion flag.

As Tamils across their homelands held protests marking Sri Lanka's 77th Independence Day today as a Black Day, students at the University of Jaffna replaced the Sri Lankan lion flag that usually flies at the entrance with a black flag.

Hundreds of students dressed in black and wearing black bandanas held placards to send the message that the day was not a day to celebrate for the Tamils. A declaration to mark the day was read out, stating that "Independence Day for Tamils is the day our homeland becomes free".  

Placards at the protest demanded the end of occupations of Tamil homeland by Sri Lanka, answers for the fate of Tamils who surrendered at the end of the armed conflict, the fact that Sri Lankan war criminals are roaming free, and that Tamils have no trust in the Sri Lankan government. 

Among the demands made by the students were that the National People's Power (NPP) government must deliver on its pledge to disband government sponsored Sinhala settlements aimed at dividing the Tamils homelands. Protesters noted the current NPP government has not delivered anything to address the Tamil people's grievances, and that Sri Lankan armed personnel continue to interfere and involve in public activities. 

The Sri Lankan flag is lowered.

A black flag is raised instead.

They concluded their list of ten demands with the call that the only hope for permanent peace on the island is the holding of an internationally monitored referendum in the Tamil homelands, and that any political solution must recognise the Tamil people's inalienable right to their homeland, nationhood and self-determination.

 

 

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