Alongside the large-scale event in Mullivaikkal itself, remembrance events were held across the Tamil homeland today to mark the 10th anniversary of the end of the armed conflict, when tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred by Sri Lankan armed forces. 

Tamils gather at Mullivaikkal to remember genocide 10 years on

Mullaitivu

Commencing the day of remembrance, the former Northern Provincial Councillor, T Ravikaran paid tribute early this morning at Nanthikadal lagoon, where thousands were massacred. 

Kilinochchi

In Kilinochchi, residents, families of the disappeared and local politicians held a remembrance event in front of the Sri Lankan war victory monument, in defiance of the military. 

Batticaloa 

Families of the disappeared, former LTTE cadres and local residents held a vigil at the Pathirakali Amman temple in Kanchirankuda.

Local residents and Tamil National People's Front party members in Vakarai held a remembrance event by Maanikka seafront

The Batticaloa branch of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) held an event in Arayampathy, at the Sithira Velayutha Swamy Temple. Past and present TNA MPs, as well as party members participated. 

Locals in Batticaloa town held a remembrance event by the Kalmunai-Batticaloa main road, close to the Eastern University's medical faculty. 

Journalists and media workers in Batticaloa gathered by the assassinated media workers memorial to remember their colleagues who have been killed, as well as the tens of thousands of civilians. 

Former LTTE cadres of the Crusaders for Democracy political party, held memorial event at their office in Vellaveli, Batticaloa. 

Jaffna

Students at the University of Jaffna alongside staff defied threats from the Sri Lankan army and police to commemorate May 18 at the Mullivaikkal monument in the campus. Read more here. 

Senior members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) - the biggest party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - commemorated Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day at the party’s headquarters in Jaffna. Party leader Mavai Senathirajah lit the central flame, while senior politicians including Jaffna mayor Emmanuel Arnold and Northern Provincial Council chair C V K Sivagnanam were also present.

Vavuniya 

Civil society activists and local residents in Sakayamaathapuram, Vavuniya held a vigil at the Muthumariamman Temple. 

A commemoration was also held at the Pongu Thamil monument outside the Vavuniya Municipal Council office. 

Amparai 

Families of the disappeared in Amparai held a remembrance service, lighting candles and saying prayers, at the Manikkapillaiyar temple in Thirukkovil. 

Mannar 

In Mannar, the local civil society forum held a remembrance event at their office, lighting candles and laying flowers in remembrance. 

Local activists also handed out unflavoured kanchi (rice porridge), a gesture called for by civil society to remember the suffering of the victims and survivors of Mullivaikkal who had little else to eat.

Students from a primary school in Mannar also held a tree planting to commemorate the day.

Trincomalee 

Residents, civil society activists and families of the disappeared gathered to pay their respects for those killed. 

A vigil was also held at the Trincomalee Sivan Kovil. 

Unflavoured kanchi (rice porridge) was also given out in Trincomalee to remind locals of the suffering of the those in Mullivaikkal in May 2009.