Remembering the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009, students at the University of Jaffna said it was their duty remember those who had been massacred.

"The great wound this has caused in our hearts is not one that will go away, however many generations go by.  It will continue to live in the hearts of our descendants," the university's student union said in a statement released on Thursday.

"On the last day of this week which carries the pain and loss of our kith and kin, it is our duty to light lamps in our hearts and with heartfelt emotion remember our lost loved ones. It is our right to hold in our hearts and remember those who died for us."

The university's attempts to commemorate those who were killed by lighting candles in previous years took place amid military bans on all remembrance activity and a heavy military presence.

See last year's May 18th remembrance event at the University of Jaffna here.

Full translation of the student union's statement follows:

This painful week brings back to our eyes and thoughts the festering wounds caused by the massacres of our kith and kin during the last phase of the war. The fire of oppression has encircled our community, which has so far seen only huge loss of life and continuous suffering. The injustice caused to our community is still defended to this day. It is in such situation that the painful month of May arrives every year.

It is only humane to ask for our rights, deprived and denied. To provide those rights is a humanitarian action. But when our community asked for justice they
were made shot down after being forced to stand, those who had no refuge were kept oppressed and destroyed. This was a hitherto unseen cruelty in this world.

The great wound this has caused in our hearts is not one that will go away, however many generations go by.  It will continue to live in the hearts of our descendants.

Therefore, on the last day of this week which carries the pain and loss of our kith and kin, it is our duty to light lamps in our hearts and with heartfelt emotion remember our lost loved ones. It is our right to hold in our hearts and remember those who died for us.

Our dear kith and kin, let us light lamps remembering our dear departed who were denied the right to even cry and were instead massacred. There is no room for any political colours here. Therefore, the Jaffna University Student Union has organised an joint initiative in the Jaffna University premises to hold a remembrance event on Monday the 18th of May. We, the Jaffna University Student’s Union invite everyone to attend the event to remember with heartfelt emotion our lost kith and kin.