The Association of Relatives of Enforced Disappearances in the North and East have joined other organisations across the Tamil homeland in distributing Mullivaikkal Kanji to commemorate Tamil Genocide Week today.

See a statement from them, explaining why they distribute kanji -  a porridge of rice and water -  below.

MULLIVAIKKAL KANJI

May 12 to 18

The Sri Lankan government spent billions to commit genocide, said Tamil National People’s Front lawmaker S Kajendran in parliament earlier this month, stating that funds from the two million-strong Tamil diaspora could allow the whole island to flourish if the state was willing to accept Tamil nationhood.

A flame was lit at Nandikadal lagoon today to mark the beginning of Mullivaikkal remembrance week. 

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) activist Peter IIlancheliyan lit the flame and sprinkled flowers at the lagoon, where thousands of Tamils were subjected to heavy Sri Lankan military bombardment.

As Tamils gather across the North-East to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred in Mullivaikkal, footage has emerged of Sri laankan police threatening to shoot those gathering in Mullaitivu earlier today.

The police are filmed stating:

This is Mullaitivu police announcement.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister today before Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Wickremesinghe has served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2015, 2015 to 2018, and 2018 to 2019. With this announcement, Tamil Guardian takes a look back at the veteran United National Party (UNP) leader who has become Sri Lanka's Prime Minister for the 6th time with just one seat in Parliament.

Sri Lanka's Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a travel ban on former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and several others this morning, reportedly as part of investigations into the violence against anti-government protestors that took place earlier this week.

Amongst those restricted from leaving the island are Rajapaksa’s son and former minister Namal, as well as other key allies including Jonston Fernando.

Tamils across the North-East marked the first day of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week by boiling and serving kanji to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan state 13 years ago.

Kanji - a porridge of rice and water - was the only food available to Tamils trapped in the Sri Lankan government declared 'No Fire Zones' as food, medicines and other necessities were heavily restricted from entering the Vanni during the final phase of the armed conflict. 

The Sri Lankan government denied the delivery of food into the conflict zones, to use starvation as a weapon of war. Even as Tamils stood in long queues to get a bowl of kanji, the Sri Lankan military continued their daily bombardment, slaughtering many. 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has encouraged Sri Lankan stakeholders  to "find a solution to the current challenges through dialogue" as the island continues to grapple with a growing crisis. 

In a special address to the country, embattled Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, refused to step down insisting that would appoint a new Prime Minister and cabinet this week.

Sri Lankan military have been heavily deployed to the capital, Colombo as anti-government protests and violence continues on the island. 

Armoured military tanks and armed soldiers were seen patrolling the capital after being ordered by the Defence Ministry to shoot anyone "looting public property or causing harm to others".