Vigils were held in Mannar to mark Tamil Genocide Day and to remember the victims of the massacres at Mullivaikkal.

The civil society group Thamil Thesiya Vaazhvurimai Iyakkam held a memorial service at its premises, attended by the organisation's members and locals.

British politicians from across the political spectrum marked the 12th anniversary since the massacres at Mullivaikkal earlier today, with remarks from the UK foreign secretary and the Labour party leader Keir Starmer calling for sanctions on Sri Lankan officials accused of war crimes.

A group of lawmakers from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) marked Tamil Genocide Day at the Sri Lankan parliament complex in Kotte this morning, before a parliamentary session was due to take place.

The parliamentarians dressed in black and lit candles by a red and yellow flag, before holding a moment of silence to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians killed at the hands of the Sri Lankan state 12 years ago.

The Mullivaikkal Commemoration Committee marked the 12th anniversary of the massacre by lighting flame to a memorial lamp opposite a poster. 

The Committee also released the “Mullivaikal Declaration” recounting the Tamil people’s struggle for justice throughout the 12 years since the armed conflict came to an end despite being subjected to intense oppression by the Sri Lankan government. 

The Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) -UK and 24 Tamil university societies call on the UK government to recognise the Tamil genocide and refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

In a joint statement, marking the 12th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, they said: 

Students at the University of Jaffna bypassed a heavy army and police presence around the campus to light a flame at the Mullivaikkal monument and mark Tamil Genocide Day today.

As Tamil people, politicians and civil society remember and pay tribute to the victims of the Mullivaikkal massacre on its twelfth anniversary, local Tamil governments including divisional secretariats and municipal councils also hold vigils in memory of the massacre. 

Jaffna Municipal Council

The Jaffna Municipal Council held a vigil remembering the victims of Mullivaikal with Mayor V.Manivannan leading the proceedings. 

Marking the 12^th anniversary since the massacres in Mullivaikkal, Canadian politicians across all spectrums remember the Tamil genocide with remarks from Prime minister Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, with further statements coming from leading MP's and MPP.

Vigils and memorials to the tens of thousands massacred by the Sri Lankan state at Mullivaikkal have taken place across the Tamil homeland, despite an onslaught by the Sri Lankan state in recent days to prevent commemorations.

Sri Lankan army locks down Mullaitivu on eve of Tamil Genocide commemorations

Civil society leader Velan Swamigal led a vigil on Mullivaikkal beach to mark Tamil Genocide Day, in defiance of crackdowns by the Sri Lankan state, including the lockdown of the areas surrounding Mullivaikkal in Mullaitivu.