Sat May 24 05:11:25 UTC 2025: **Sri Lankan Tamils Commemorate War Dead, Await Answers Under New Government**
**Mullivaikkal, Sri Lanka** – Thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils gathered in Mullivaikkal on May 18th to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the end of the country’s brutal civil war, a conflict that continues to haunt the community as they seek answers regarding the fate of loved ones lost or “disappeared” during the fighting.
The commemorations took place at Mullivaikkal, the site of the final battle between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Attendees, many dressed in black, lit candles, observed moments of silence, and partook in kanji, a gruel consumed during the war due to severe food shortages.
This year’s memorial marked the first under the new government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected in September on promises of national unity and addressing Tamil grievances. These promises include withdrawing the military from Tamil heartlands, releasing political prisoners and an end to racism.
However, eight months into Dissanayake’s term, the Tamil community remains cautiously optimistic. While there has been some reduction in state crackdowns on commemorations, core issues remain unresolved. Concerns linger over the continued use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and recent land seizures in Mullivaikkal, signaling a potential backtrack on pre-election pledges.
The Tamil community alleges genocide during the final stages of the war, estimating nearly 170,000 deaths at the hands of government forces. UN estimates are lower, around 40,000. Despite this, Dissanayake’s government recently dismissed Tamil claims of genocide as a “false narrative” and attended a “War Heroes” celebration honoring the Sri Lankan armed forces.
Many Tamils express skepticism about the new government’s commitment to justice, citing a lack of tangible action. The government has announced plans for a truth and reconciliation commission but has rejected UN resolutions on accountability for war crimes.
The legacy of the war continues to affect Tamil families, with many households left without breadwinners. They have been even more impacted by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka following the increase in the cost of living.
Despite the challenges, some Tamils remain hopeful that the new government will provide answers regarding the fate of the disappeared. Krishnapillai Sothilakshmi who´s husband disappeared in 2008 believes the government will provide answers. Amnesty International estimates that between 60,000 and 100,000 people have disappeared in Sri Lanka since the late 1980s.
For others, like Krishnan Anjan Jeevarani who lost her parents, sister, and three-year-old daughter, hope has faded, with palm trees now growing over the unmarked graves of her family. “No government can bring back the dead, can they?” she lamented.
First Piper 