MULLIVAIKKAL: Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil politicians, religious leaders and civilians gathered on Monday under heavy surveillance at memorial ceremonies on the battleground where thousands died in the final days of the decades-long civil war that ended in 2009.

Lawmakers and local leaders lit earthen lamps and offered flowers at a makeshift memorial in Mullivaikkal village in northeastern Sri Lanka where thousands of people were killed in fierce fighting between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels. Civilians largely kept away at this event as several Sri Lankan intelligence agents and police were watching those attending the ceremony.

Even journalists covering the ceremony were followed and Sri Lankan security agents listened in as they interviewed civilians and politicians.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2015

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