An interfaith memorial event commemorating the 16th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide was organised by young Tamils in the Washington, D.C. area this month, drawing attendees of all ages to honour the victims of the mass atrocities committed against Tamils in May 2009.
The event, held at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia, Maryland, was hosted by members of the Tamil diaspora to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. The gathering featured a rich programme of spiritual reflection, political education, and cultural remembrance, with contributions from community leaders, youth organisers, and faith representatives.
The memorial opened with children from the community organisation Pazhagalaam Vaango performing the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, a tribute to the Tamil language written by revered poet Subramania Bharathi. The hymn set the tone for a solemn and collective act of remembrance.
Dhivyan Karunakaran, one of the event’s organisers, welcomed attendees and recalled his own experience of protesting outside the White House as a ten-year-old in May 2009, at the height of Sri Lanka’s military offensive in Mullivaikkal. He emphasised that events like Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day were crucial for collective healing within the Tamil community and served as vital educational platforms for allies and the broader public.
Divy Kangeyan, another organiser, addressed the Sri Lankan state’s continued efforts to suppress the memory of the Mullivaikkal genocide and stressed the importance of the Tamil diaspora’s commitment to public commemoration. He referenced the recent unveiling of the Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Canada, as an example of how Tamil communities worldwide continue to resist erasure.
The event also included devotional components. Piragash Swargaloganathan sang Tamil prayers from the Tirumurai, a revered collection of Tamil Saivite Hindu scriptures. This was followed by a recitation of the Sivapuranam, led by Kangeyan - an ancient hymn composed by Saint Manickavasagar, traditionally sung for the spiritual peace of departed souls.
Organiser Niraj Suresh reflected on the Hindu perspective on honouring the deceased, stating "The victims of the Mullivaikkal genocide were individuals who strove for righteous lives amidst adversity."
He suggested prayers to Lord Shiva for their souls to find peace.
A special address was also delivered via recorded remarks from Reverend Dr Paul Benjamin, a retired Methodist minister from Murunkan, Mannar District, who has over six decades of pastoral experience across Sri Lanka and the United States. Dr Benjamin described the systematic persecution of Tamils over decades that culminated in genocide. Quoting from the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, he reaffirmed the Christian principle of equality and called for peace and justice for the global Tamil community.
Pushparany Williams, President of the United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG), spoke about the need for sustained advocacy to achieve justice and accountability. She condemned the ongoing harassment of families of the disappeared and highlighted the recent arrest of three Tamil youth activists in Sri Lanka during Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorations. Williams also provided an update on USTAG’s ongoing work within diplomatic and legal spaces.
A documentary film chronicling the history of the Tamil genocide, compiled by Divy Kangeyan and Niraj Suresh, was screened during the event, helping to educate new audiences about the structural and violent injustices faced by Tamils.
The memorial concluded with a candlelight vigil and a floral offering ceremony, in which attendees paid tribute to the lives lost. Iniya Ravikumar, a student at Virginia Tech and an advocate for Tamil rights who spoke at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last year, addressed the cultural and symbolic significance of kanji (porridge) in Mullivaikkal commemorations. She reminded the audience that kanji was the only sustenance available to thousands of Tamils trapped in the so-called "No Fire Zone" during the genocide.
As a final act of remembrance, kanji was served to all attendees.
