Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal memorial ground today to remember the tens of thousands slaughtered during the final stages of the armed conflict. 

Holding photos of their loved ones, families, students, faith leaders and NPC members gathered at the grounds to light candles and lay flowers. 

People For Equality and Relief in Sri Lanka (PEARL) condemned Western governments for failing to act on Sri Lanka’s “empty commitments and meaningless platitudes" and reiterated the need for an international justice mechanism, expressing solidarity with Tamils across the globe commemorate Tamil Genocide Day.

The Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan held a small event to remember the Mullivakkal massacre. Lighting a flame, Mr Sampanthan and fellow party members held a moment's silence in memory of those who had been killed. 

Tamils gathered in Vavuniya today, to mark 9 years since the genocide at Mullivaikkal.         

Tamils in Mannar held a commemoration ceremony this morning, marking 9 years since the massacre at Mullivaikkal.

Amnesty International called on Sri Lanka to release a comprehensive list of Tamil civilians and cadres that surrendered to Sri Lanka’s armed forces during the final phases of the ethnic conflict.

“The mass disappearance of those who surrendered at the end of the war is a clear indication of the institutionalization of the practice of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka. The State’s concealment of the fate, whereabouts and information of the disappeared person triggers criminal responsibility,” said the rights organisation in a press release on May 18.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for “a process of accountability that has the trust and confidence of the survivors” in a message issued to mark 9 years since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

“The war – which lasted over 26 years – resulted in immeasurable injuries, loss of life, and displacement,” said Mr Trudeau. “The wounds of this war linger as the survivors seek answers for their loss, including family members and loved ones who have disappeared.”

“Over the past nine years, I have met many Tamil-Canadians personally affected by the war. Their stories are a solemn reminder of the need to attain lasting peace and true reconciliation.”

In a statement released yesterday, Sri Lanka’s commander of the Army Mahesh Senanayake payed tribute to “War heroes who defended the motherland” and “rescued thousands of innocent Tamil civilians,” whilst “protecting the country’s unitary status.”

Lieutenant General Senenayake outlined the launch of a “special programme” to commemorate Sri Lanka’s armed force that “sacrificed their tomorrow.. defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unitary status of Sri Lanka.”

He added, 

"Nine years have passed by 19 May 2018 since the eradication of terrorism from our soil."

The Army Commander's statement concluded, 

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena expressed his “deepest gratitude” to the military today, whilst the former president praised the end of “terrorism”.

?Mr Sirisena tweeted,

“I express my deepest gratitude to all Sri Lankan war heroes on this National War Heroes Commemoration Day.”

Previously the Sirisena government had said the day would be renamed a “day of remembrance”, rather than to commemorate Sri Lankan troops.

Meanwhile former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapapksa, who oversaw the Sri Lankan military offensive in 2009, tweeted,

A Sri Lankan cabinet minister declared it was against “the law of the land” to remember “dead terrorists” in a press conference with journalists on Thursday.

Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters that,

“The LTTE terror campaign also challenged the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Therefore, our armed forces did not have any other option but to crush the terror campaign using its full might.”