Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day - 2022: Reminiscing the dead in final battle 2009

A Buddhist monk and a priest standing next to a fire during a gathering in remembrance of the thousands of minority Tamil civilians killed in the decades-long separatist war that officially came to an end 13 years ago, near the President’s office in Colombo on May 18, 2022.

| Photo Credit - ISHARA S. KODIKARA

Marking the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day as a day of mourning, Tamils across the North and East on May 18 gathered at the Mullaitivu district village Mullivaikkal to remember the tens of thousands of civilians who died in the final stages of war in 2009. The main Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the Mullivaikkal main ground. This year also marks the 13th year since the war ended in 2009. The Daily Mirror visited Mullivaikkal village on the memorial day and spoke to some of the residents in the area and concerned groups who participated in the main memorial ceremony in Mullivaikkal regarding the significance of the day. 

Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day is observed by the Sri Lankan Tamil people to remember those who died in the final stages of the war. It is held each year on May 18, the date on which the civil war ended in 2009. It was the scene of the final battle of the war.  

A place of survival and death

“Most of the people in Mullivaikkal have lost one or more of their family members or relatives. Therefore, everyone here has a right to engage in memorial ceremonies”
 -  Shashidaran Anoja

For Mullivaikkal’s 34-year-old Shashidaran Anoja, the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day this year has brought some hope as it was held peacefully compared to previous years.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror Anoja said, “The memorial this time was held peacefully. In previous years we had less freedom to remember our beloved family members and relatives. In some years, we couldn’t even light a candle for the dead. There had been a lot of restrictions from the Government. We hope in coming years the Government would allow us to hold the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day peacefully like this year and pay tribute to our family members, relatives and others who lost their lives during the war.  Most of the people in Mullivaikkal have lost one or more of their family members or relatives. Therefore, everyone here has a right to engage in memorial ceremonies. Last year there had been a lot of restrictions due the pandemic. Government sometimes made use of pandemic as a weapon not to allow people to get involved in memorial activities.” She said people here didn’t want Rajapaksa regime to be in power anymore as it had made the lives of the ordinary miserable and plundered public money.

Recalling the final stages of war in 2009, Anoja said, “At the peak of war in April and May of 2009, most of the people in Mullaitivu district died as they did not have access to medical care and food. We were in bunkers, pits or trenches. We had little or no hope of saving our lives. Many including elderly women and children died before our own eyes.  People were starving and even had no water to drink. The scars of those haunting memories of war will never leave us. 
In 2009, I lost my brother in the war. My brother was severely injured but there was no way that we could take him to a safer place to save his life. I still remember the only thing he asked from me before he died was for water. But there was no water at all. People could not move an inch to get some water from a well.”

Anoja said that the oppression was still being felt as people in the North and East continue to experience the economic burdens. She said, “The farmers here don’t have enough fertilizer to cultivate. The farmers also need fuel to run their machinery used in cultivation. As a result, the paddy production has decreased. The fishermen need kerosene for their boats. There is not enough fuel in the area. The livelihoods of people here are depended on cultivation and fishing. How can they survive when they cannot make a living and have a proper income when the prices of goods are skyhigh? Another major problem we are facing now is the lack of safe drinking water.” 
According to her, the water sources and wells have been contaminated with chemicals by the weapons used during the final stages of war. We have to go to Pudumathalan, which is about 10km from here just to get some drinking water,”

Large number of people drawn to Mullivaikkal

 “This year, a large number of people have been drawn to Mullivaikkal to remember the people who died.  We were able to hold the event quite peacefully unlike in the previous years”
 - Joshai Gnanaseelan

A 55-year-old fisherman and a war survivor Joshai Gnanaseelan said, “We have been celebrating the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day for more than ten years. In previous years there had been a lot of challenges and some years we could not hold the Remembrance Day as a public event. But this year, a large number of people have been drawn to Mullivaikkal to remember the people who died.  We were able to hold the event quite peacefully unlike in the previous years. On behalf of all the family members here and overseas, I extend my condolences. The newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe allowed us to hold this event without hindrance. We are really grateful to him.”

Gesture of solidarity

“The event this year was a success as thousands of people from the North and East participated in the Remembrance Day. We really appreciate the religious leaders and other concerned groups who were present at the memorial ceremony,” a Mullaitivu based youth activist Kajeedaran told the Daily Mirror.  He said the state military had not imposed any restrictions as they had done in previous years. 

In previous years, most of the young people did not participate in the Remembrance Day for the fear of being arrested or intimidated
 - Kajeedaran  - Youth activist

Kajeedaran said, “This is a positive move from the Government for allowing people to engage in memorial activities as it is a human right. For Tamils it is a milestone. In previous years, most of the young people did not participate in the Remembrance Day for the fear of being arrested or intimidated but it was not so this year. Even some people from other regions outside the North and East took part in the ceremony.  Even people in Colombo have held a ceremony marking the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. This is a way of showing the solidarity with the people who have lost their loved ones. This is a progressive move that could restore the ethnic and religious harmony in the country.”  

As the Daily Mirror on the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day travelled along the north route leading to Mullivaikkal, the distribution of “Mullivaikkal Kanji” (porridge) along the route was a common a sight. When asked about the significance of the Mullivaikkal Kanji, Kajeedaran said, “Mullivaikkal Kanji is symbolic of what was left as food for people in Mullivaikkal, who went through immense suffering during the final days of the war in 2009. This is a sign of survival and nourishment. After 2009, Mullivaikkal Kanji (porridge) was a main feature of the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day.”

Journey for justice

“Memorial activities on this day are important for many reasons because the people who gathered here not only remember their loved ones who died but also they express their concern over those who have disappeared.”
 - Velan Swamigal of Sivagiri Ashram

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, pontiff of the Sivagiri Ashram and co-ordinator of last year’s Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P) protest march, Velan Swamigal said, “A large crowd was drawn to this day across the North and the East. In a context where Tamils have been discriminated with their rights being neglected since independence in 1948, we remember the people who died in the final phases of the war. More than 147,000 civilians are said to have died in the war. Memorial activities on this day are important for many reasons because the people who gathered here not only remember their loved ones who died but also they express their concern over those who have disappeared.” He said justice should be done and the due process should be followed adding that the political prisoners who had been arbitrarily arrested should also be released. “It is a responsibility of the government to restore the land of the people who have been displaced during the war,” he said.

Mothers who lost her children and relatives during the war cry in grief (CREDIT: Dinitha Rathnayake)