In Pictures - May 17 Movement marks Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day in Chennai

Hundreds of Tamils gathered at Besant Nagar beach in Chennai on 18 May 2025 to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, commemorating the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians massacred by the Sri Lankan state during the final stages of the armed conflict in Mullivaikkal in 2009.

The event, organised by the May 17 Movement, began at 6:00 PM and drew a large crowd, including long-time supporters of the Tamil cause and younger activists. It served as a solemn occasion to honour the victims of what Tamils across the world recognise as a genocide.

Among those in attendance was veteran Tamil politician Vaiko, who has consistently voiced support for Eelam Tamils and demanded international recognition of the genocide. The ceremony included speeches, tributes, and symbolic acts of remembrance to reaffirm the continued demand for justice and accountability.

Chennai has long served as a key site for Tamil solidarity with the Eelam struggle, and the May 17 Movement has played a leading role in organising commemorations, protests, and awareness campaigns in Tamil Nadu.

The Chennai event was part of a broader series of commemorations held globally by the Tamil diaspora and allies, including in Sydney, Toronto, Paris, and London. In Tamil Eelam, despite heavy surveillance and repression by the Sri Lankan state, Tamils held memorials across the North-East, including at the University of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, and Mannar. 

See more photographs from Chennai below.