Image by Tamil Narratives 

Today marks 17 years since the death of Brigadier Balraj, a senior commander with the LTTE, who passed away from a sudden heart attack in 2008.

Brig. Balraj was famed for his courage, leadership and skills on the battlefield.

His body was laid to rest with full military honours, at the Mulliyavalai Heroes Cemetery in Mullaitivu. The cemetery has since been destroyed by Sri Lankan security forces.

Tamils in Belgium commemorated the tens of thousands of Tamils that were slaughtered by the Sri Lankan military in the 2009 genocide. 

On May 18, Tamils gathered outside the Operaplein in Antwerp, and laid flowers in memory of those who perished in Mullivaikkal.

Remembrance events took place in the Tamil homeland and across the diaspora to mark the day. 

Various members of Congress in the United States marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day on the social media platform 'X' today. Renewed calls for justice, accountability, and recognition were made, with calls for involvement from the international community and emphasis on Tamil self-determination.

Congresswoman Summer Lee, representative for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, issued the following statement: 

The Tamil genocide was commemorated by Tamils in Palermo, Italy, over the weekend. 

A lamp was lit and flowers were laid at a makeshift monument at Giardino dei Giusti before Mullivaikkal kanji was served.