A powerful protest in Kilinochchi on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day exposed deep unresolved grievances, as Tamil civil groups, families of the missing, and students rejected celebrations and demanded justice, land rights, and self determination.
In conjunction with Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day, a protest march was held in Kilinochchi today calling the occasion a black day for the Tamil homeland and demanding self determination and answers for the missing.
The demonstration brought together civil society groups from the Northern and Eastern provinces, families of the disappeared, and university students.
Protesters said Sri Lanka Independence Day symbolised continued injustice, insisting on the Tamil people’s right to political self determination, the truth about relatives who vanished during and after the war, and an end to state takeover of Tamil owned lands.
Many participants wore black clothing and carried banners reading “Sri Lanka’s Independence Day – Black Day for the Tamil Homeland”, turning the streets into a visible display of mourning and resistance.
The march began near the Kilinochchi Kovil, moved along the main road, and unfolded under heavy security deployment across the town. Police monitored the protest closely as tensions remained high.
