An event marking the beginning of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week commenced on Monday (May 11) in Valikamam South as the Tamil nation commemorates 17 years since the genocide at Mullivaikkal.
The remembrance event was held in front of the council premises at a specially established Mullivaikkal memorial centre, where floral tributes were paid in memory of those who were killed by Sri Lanka's armed forces in Mullivaikkal in the final months of the armed conflict.
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Acting General Secretary and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran ceremonially lit the main remembrance flame and formally inaugurated the event.
Following the memorial observances, Mullivaikkal kanji, a simple rice porridge, was distributed to the public as part of the remembrance activities.
Members of the Valikamam South Divisional Council, including its Chairman, as well as representatives and supporters of ITAK participated in the event.