Commemorative events marking the 17th anniversary of the Tamil genocide were held in Batticaloa today.

A remembrance event organised by the North-East Coordination Committee was held at Gandhi Park in Batticaloa, where victim-survivors of the massacre, social activists and representatives of civil organisations gathered to honour those killed during the final stages of the war in Mullivaikkal.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reaffirmed Canada’s recognition of the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka as genocide, issuing an official statement marking Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and honouring victims and survivors of the armed conflict.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay issued a message on Monday evening marking Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, stating that the memories of Mullivaikkal must remain in the hearts of Tamils and reaffirming support for the rights of Eelam Tamils living across the seas.

Posting on X in Tamil on May 18, Vijay wrote, “Let us carry the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts. We shall always stand in support of the rights of our Tamil relatives living across the seas.”
 

Marking the 17th anniversary of the Tamil genocide and the 50th anniversary of the Vaddukoddai Resolution, the U.S.-based advocacy organisation PEARL has renewed calls for international accountability for war crimes and genocide against Tamils, while reaffirming the Eelam Tamil people’s right to self-determination.

Tamils in Point Pedro, Jaffna, commemorated the victims of the Mullivaikkal genocide today. 

The commemoration was organised by the Point Pedro Traders Association. 

The British High Commission in Colombo on Monday (May 18) issued a statement marking 17 years since the end of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict, stressing the need for truth, justice and accountability as families across the island continue searching for missing loved ones.

In a Facebook post shared on May 18, the British mission said,

“17 years on, we remember those who lost their lives or disappeared in Sri Lanka’s armed conflict, including families still searching for the whereabouts of their loved ones. Meaningful progress on truth, justice and accountability remains essential for lasting reconciliation.”

All photographs by Uthayarasa Shalin

Thousands of Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal commemoration ground this morning to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. 

This year marks 17 years since Sri Lanka's genocidal offensive that left an estimated 169,796 Tamils unaccounted for and presumed dead.