Speaking at a remembrance event held in Neduntheevu to mark the 40th anniversary of the Kumuthini massacre, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament Shritharan condemned continued genocide denial by senior Sri Lankan politicians.
“The Sinhala supremacists who claim that no genocide was committed against the Eelam Tamils are attempting to blind the eyes and conscience of the world,” Shritharan said, denouncing ongoing state-sponsored historical revisionism.
On the occasion, which commemorated the massacre of Tamil civilians aboard the Kumuthini vessel in 1984, Shritharan conveyed his gratitude to international actors who have supported Tamil efforts for justice and recognition.
In particular, he extended thanks to the Canadian Prime Minister and the Mayor of Brampton for their role in recognising the Tamil genocide.
Reflecting on the long arc of massacres carried out across the Tamil homeland, Shritharan stated:
“From the boat of Kumuthini, the seas of Gurunagar, Kokkilai, Chathurukondan, Vakarai, Navali, and Nagercoil, all the way to Mullivaikkal—massacres were carried out in waves, systematically annihilating Tamils one group at a time.”
He sharply criticised members of Sri Lanka’s current political leadership, stating:
“Even today, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, along with Namal Rajapaksa and Ali Sabry, continue to shamelessly deny that a genocide took place in Tamil Eelam.”
Such statements, Shritharan said, constitute a blatant insult to the world’s conscience and reflect the deep-seated Sinhala hegemonic racism embedded within the ruling establishment.
In contrast to this denialism, Shritharan hailed the recent unveiling of a Tamil Genocide Memorial in Brampton, Canada, as a landmark in the global recognition of Tamil suffering and resistance.
“Amid such open racism from Sri Lanka’s ruling establishment, the establishment of a Genocide Memorial in Brampton serves as international testimony to the undeniable truth that what happened in Eelam was indeed genocide,” he declared.
