The 41st anniversary remembrance of the Kumudini massacre was observed on Friday in Neduntheevu (Delft), with relatives of the victims, religious leaders and members of the public gathering to honour those killed.
The memorial event commenced at around 9.00 a.m. at the Kumudini memorial monument situated near the Mavilithurai harbour area.
The primary remembrance flame was lit by Visuvalingam Annalakshmi, who lost her six-month-old infant in the massacre and was herself seriously injured in the attack. She remains one of the surviving witnesses to the atrocity.
Subsequent remembrance flames were lit by Nallur Sivaguru Adheenam head Velan Swamigal, Neduntheevu parish priest Fr. Kamalaraj, Hindu priest K. Bhuvanendrasarma, relatives of the victims and members of the public.
Floral tributes were later paid at the memorial monument. The flower garland was jointly placed by Velan Swamigal, Fr. Kamalaraj, Kumudini Remembrance Committee leader V. Rudran and Velanai Pradeshiya Sabha member K. Navalan.
Those attending the event thereafter offered flowers and paid their respects at the memorial site.
Following the remembrance event, Mullivaikkal kanji was distributed by members of the Islands Remembrance Committee in memory of the Mullivaikkal genocide and the suffering endured by Tamil civilians during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009.
Special religious observances for the souls of those killed in the massacre were also held earlier in the morning at the Mavilithurai Veerapathirapillaiyar Temple and the Mavilithurai St Xavier’s Church.
The Kumudini massacre took place on 15 May 1984, when Sri Lankan Navy personnel attacked passengers travelling aboard the vessel Kumudini between Delft and Kurikadduwan in the Jaffna peninsula.
Tamil civilians travelling on the boat, including women and children, were separated and assaulted before several were hacked and shot to death. Survivors and human rights organisations have long identified the attack as part of a wider pattern of violence carried out against Tamils by the Sri Lankan state.