Thavarasa Premkumar, on Monday, declared a fast unto death in order to pressurise Sri Lanka’s government to hand over the appropriated lands of the displaced people of Sampur. 

Photographs: Tamil Guardian

Mr Premkumar’s demands were based on 3 requests listed below:

-Requesting the Sir Lankan government to handover the lands of the Sampur people respecting their rights and solemnity to live a dignified life in their own lands.

-Requesting the international community and the United Nations to pressurise the Sri Lanka government to take immediate measures to solve the burning issues of the Sampur community.

-Requesting the Tamil diaspora to work in lines with the affected and desperate communities in the Northern Eastern region to safeguard and sustain their rights and entitlements.

An event organised to commemorate the Mullivaikkal massacres later today in Mannar has been banned by police.

Organiser Mr Sivakaran told the Tamil Guardian a letter detailing the ban was delivered by police in the early hours of Monday.

The remembrance event was due to be held in a hall in the town of Mannar.

On Saturday Mullaitivu Magistrate Court issued a ban on events commemorating May 18 at Mullivaikkal, stopping events organised by the Northern Provincial Council and the TNPF.

May 18 commemorations in Vakarai (Photographs Tamil Guardian)

Several police officers were stationed at a May 18 memorial event in Vakarai, Batticaloa, where Tamils had gathered to remember those that died in the armed conflict, which ended 6 years ago today.

Tamil National People's Front General Secretary Kajendran Selvarajah, who was at the event said the police acted in a highly intimidating manner.

"The people who attended today wanted to mourn those that died. However due to the presence of the police, who acted in a very intimidating way, our people were not able to show their emotions freely," he told the Tamil Guardian.

Mr Selvarajah said the police officers collected personal details of those who attended the event, causing further distress.

Jaffna University auditorium (Photographs Tamil Guardian)

Hundreds of students attended a memorial event held at Jaffna University on Monday, marking the sixth year anniversary of the massacre of Tamils during the final stages of Sri Lanka's armed conflict.

Holding candles in their hands, students filed into the Kailasabathi auditorium and paid their respects to those who had been killed.

Whilst Sri Lankan police officers and military personnel were not seen on campus, there was an increased presence of intelligence officers in the surrounding area reported by students.

NPC Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran lights lamp of remembrance at Mullivaikkal. Photograph Tamil Guardian

A remembrance event marking the six anniversary of the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict took place at the epicentre of the massacre, Mullivaikal, despite a ban issued by Sri Lankan authorities prohibiting public rallies.

Photograph Mayurapriyan

Many who travelled to the event had their vehicles stopped by Sri Lankan police officers and were questioned regarding their movements.

Photograph Shalin

Photograph Mayurapriyan

In a statement made for the commemoration of mass atrocities against Tamils that took place at the end of the armed ethnic conflict in May 2009, Mr Emmanuael called on leaders to collaborate in: