Students and staff at the University of Jaffna and Eastern University held remembrance events today marking the 9th anniversary of the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils by Sri Lankan armed forces at the end of the conflict in 2009.

Temple prayers were organised in Batticaloa today to remember the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils by Sri Lankan state forces in 2009. 

Families in Koralaipedu, Batticaloa held a special poosai at Kinnaiyadi Vaavikkarai whilst in Kiraan, the Tamil National Alliance organised at the local Sri Vishnu temple, where TNA MPs and party members participated.

Kinnaiyadi Vaavikkarai, Batticaloa 

Tamil media sites and newspapers today marked the 9th anniversary of the genocide of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict with special tributes and posts on their websites and frontpages. 

Local residents and members of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) marked Tamil Genocide Day today in Vaaharai, Batticaloa.

Remembering the tens of thousands slaughtered by Sri Lanka's state forces, those gathered lit a lamp by the river side and scattered flowers into its waters. 

^{Students at Vembadi Girls School, Jaffna}

Students across the North-East held a minute silence at 11am local time today in memory of the tens of thousands who were killed by Sri Lankan armed forces in the final stages of the conflict in 2009. 

At precisely 11am students and staff stood in silence to remember. 

Addressing crowds gathered at the Tamil genocide remembrance event in Mullivaikkal memorial ground today, the chief minister of the Northern Province called on the international community to set up without delay international strategic mechanism to ensure justice. 

Declaring May 18 as 'Tamil Genocide Day', Mr Wigneswaran said, "as a group of people who have faced institutional genocide, the international community must come forward to assure us a sustainable political settlement based on our sovereignty, our homelands and our individuality."

"Sri Lanka consented to install a hybrid Inquiry Panel before the world body. Now they refuse to abide by their promise and undertaking. This would point out to the world the manner in which our successive governments for 70 years have deceived and fooled our Tamil people." 

Crowds have begun to gather this morning at Mullivaikkal memorial ground ahead of the remembrance event planned to start at 11am local time. School students and families of the disappeared who have been holding continous protests held out May 18 rosettes. 

Schools across the Northern province flew the Northern Provincial Council flag at half mast today marking Tamil Genocide Day. 

Earlier this week the NPC education minister has sent a circular to all schools requesting them to hold a moment's silence at 11am in memory of the tens of thousands who were killed by Sri Lankan state forces at the end of the armed conflict. 

Businesses across the North-East remained shut this morning to mark May 18 as 'Tamil Genocide Day', remembering the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred by the Sri Lankan state during the end of the armed conflict in 2009. 

Traders in Puthukudiyiruppu closed their shops and set up a memorial for the victims with black bunting and flowers in memory of the lives lost. 

Students at the University of Jaffna gathered outside its grounds this morning before embarking on a motorbike procession in memory of the tens of thousands of Tamils slaughtered by Sri Lankan state forces at the end of the armed conflict in 2009.