This week, Tamils across the North East commemorated the deaths of over 35,000 people during the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that devastated North-East and South of the island of Sri Lanka.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported five days after the disaster that almost two-thirds of those killed across the island were in the Tamil homeland of the North-East.

"The North-East is the region worst affected by the tsunami," the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) said in a  joint report.

Uduthurai 
Relatives of the tsunami victims lit candles and laid flowers at the tsunami memorial in Uduthurai. 

Vavuniya
A prayer service was held by Vavuniya Municipal Council and Vavuniya Narasingar temple at the tsunami memorial.

A commemoration ceremony for those killed in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami was held in Vavuniya Kovil today, as mourners gathered to remember those killed in the tragedy.

It was organized by the Vavuniya District Secretariat and District Disaster Management.

Mullaitivu

Relatives of the tsunami victims lit candles and laid flowers at the tsunami memorial in Mullaitivu. 

The 18th year commemoration of the victims of the tsunami was held at the Tsunami Memorial on Mullaitivu Beach Road.

Students from Jaffna University also held an event on campus to commemorate the victims.

A commemoration event was held for the victims of the tsunami at the Tsunami Memorial in Mulliyawalai.
The event was organized by the Karaithuraipattu Divisional Council.
Relatives of the tsunami victims lit candles and laid flowers at the tsunami memorials.