Marking eleven years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal, former UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, has issued a statement remembering the thousands of Tamils killed during their struggle for self-determination; the regression of the Sri Lankan government; and, the urgent need for the international community to support the struggle of the Tamil people. 

Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa warned that he would withdraw his government from global bodies if attempts to prosecute Sri Lankan soldiers for war crimes are pursued.

Speaking at a ‘National War Heroes Day’ event, Rajapaksa vowed that his regime “will take every measure always to protect the dignity of our heroic forces” and slammed “attempts to discredit and destroy the dignity” the Sri Lankan military.

German Tamils held a remembrance event for the approximately 70,000-140,000 Tamils killed during the Mullivaikkal massacres.

Protesters held up signs demanding an answer for the approximate 146, 679 Tamils who disappeared during the final stages of the war. Families across the Tamil homeland have taken to the streets since the end of the war requesting an account of where their loved ones are. Over a decade has passed and 69 mothers have died without finding a solution to their grievances. 

Marking the eleventh anniversary of the Mullivaikkal Massacre, People for Equality and Relief in Sri Lanka (PEARL) have released a statement mourning the loss of approximate 70-140,000 Tamils during the finals stages of the war but also maintaining that the “liberation struggle lives on”.

The collective trauma of Mullivaikkal

In remembering the events of Mullivaikkal, PEARL states that “the collective trauma of Mullivaikkal has left an indelible mark on the psyche of Tamils across the world”.

Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa said a “sense of pride and joy overwhelms me” as he marked 11 years since May 19, 2009, whilst Tamils around the world mourned the tens of thousands massacred by state forces.

“I write this message with utmost contentment and pride to pay homage to the valiant war heroes who defeated separatist terrorism and brought peace and harmony to the country,” said Rjapaksa in a message this morning.

A Mullivaikkal remembrance event, held by the leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), Selvam Adaikalanathan, took place at 6:15pm, yesterday.

The special tribute took place at TELO’s headquarters in Vavuniya.

A memorial event led by the “Wings of Fire” organisation to mark the Mullivaikkal genocide, was held by the Kudiyiruppu reservoir in Vavuniya yesterday evening.

During preparations for the event, intelligence units and police officials - including chief officers and assistant officers – had warned that this “common place” should not to be used to hold a memorial event.

A vigil for the Mullivaikkal genocide was held at St Fatima Church in Puthukkidiyiruppu, Mullaitivu. 

The Mullivaikkal genocide was remembered at former MP Sivamohan's office in Katkuly.