Staten Island Hindu Temple Hosts 16th Annual Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day This Sunday
Editor’s note: We previously covered the Ilanka Tamil Sangam America’s Kalai Vila, a grand celebration of Tamil heritage. A photo slideshow was included so readers can experience the event. We also published an announcement in advance of the Kalai Villa 2025 event. According to the International Truth and Justice Project (via Wikipedia), which was established in 2013 to hold the Sri Lankan government accountable for the crimes against the Tamil people, 169,796 Tamil civilians were killed between January and May of 2009. The UN states between 40-70,000 Tamil civilians were killed during that time. Between 1956 and 2009, 154,022 to 253,818 Tamil civilians were killed.
Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day in SI Hindu temple on Sunday
Please see the flyer below
May 18, 2025 marks the 16th year since Sri Lanka’s military assault against Tamil civilians in their homeland in the North-East of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan military’s campaign was the first genocide of the twenty first century, and used methods such as humanitarian blockades and the intentional targeting of civilians in so called ‘safe zones’ that are a precursor to the current devastation in Gaza.
The UN estimates that 40, 000 people were killed in the final months of the war whilst available census data suggest that 147, 000 people remain unaccounted for. In the sixteen years since the end of the war there has been no accountability whatsoever despite the enormity of the crimes.
Sri Lanka has demonstrated its complete unwillingness to provide justice and accountability through domestic mechanisms. Several resolutions on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the collection of quantities of evidence by various bodies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Sri Lanka Accountability Project (OSLAP), must now lead to urgent action by member states to stop impunity for the international crimes committed against the Tamil community on the island and to provide redress for the victims.
May 18
Tamil Genocide
16th Remembrance Day
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Staten Island Hindu Temple
1318 Victory Blvd
Banner Image: Event flyer. Image Credit – Ilanka Tamil Sangam America
