Special prayers were held at Selva Sannidhi Murugan temple in Thondaimaanaru on Tuesday, May 12, in remembrance of those who were killed in Mullivaikkal in the final stages of the armed conflict.
The event began with special athma shanthi prayers — a Hindu ritual performed for the peace of the souls of those who have died — for the estimated 169,796 Tamils who remain unaccounted for and are presumed to have been killed by Sri Lanka armed forces in 2009.
Following the prayers, Mullivaikkal Kanji was distributed to the public as a symbolic act reflecting the humanitarian suffering endured by Tamils during the final days of the war as they were trapped in No Fire Zones and subjected to relentless shelling by Sri Lanka's military.
Among those who attended the event were former Northern Provincial Council member Chandralingam Sugirthan, Vadamarachchi South West divisional council, Deputy Chairman Dayabaran, members of the Valvettithurai Urban Council, members of the Point Pedro divisional council, party activists, and members of the public.
Commemorative events marking Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week are expected to continue across the North-East in the lead-up to May 18, also known as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.