The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has joined Tamils around the world in marking the 16th anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, issuing a somber statement that highlights continued grievances and calls for renewed political engagement and justice.
The GTF described the final months of the war in 2009 as “one of the most brutal in recent history,” with more than 40,000 Tamil civilians estimated to have been killed. The organization stressed that this was only a fraction of the losses endured by the Tamil community over seven decades of political struggle in pursuit of equality and justice.
“Many tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed or made to disappear by the State of Sri Lanka,” the statement said, while also acknowledging the suffering endured by other communities during the prolonged conflict.
Sixteen years on, GTF lamented Sri Lanka’s failure to deliver transitional justice or to address the root causes that led to the armed conflict. It accused successive governments of either consolidating authoritarian power or offering only superficial reforms that failed to meet Tamil expectations.
Despite early hope following the 2022 Aragalaya protest movement and the subsequent election of the National People’s Power (NPP) government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, GTF expressed disappointment over the slow pace of progress. “There is a notable waning of hope,” it said, citing unfulfilled promises on releasing political prisoners, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and preventing illegal land seizures from minority communities.
The forum also raised concerns over the lack of momentum on constitutional reform, provincial council elections, and full implementation of the 13th Amendment—key demands from Tamil groups seeking meaningful power-sharing and autonomy.
“A perception is emerging among the Tamil and minority communities that this government is not going to be different from its immediate predecessors when it comes to issues that concern them,” the statement warned.
Nevertheless, GTF urged the Tamil community to remain united, strategic, and engaged, calling for collaborative efforts with other communities and the international community. It cited the Himalayan Declaration, a joint initiative with Sanga for Better Sri Lanka (SBSL), as an example of forward-looking civil society engagement.
The statement concluded with a renewed commitment to advocacy: “GTF will continue to engage with the international community and all stakeholders in Sri Lanka to achieve outcomes that will meet the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people and transition Sri Lanka into a reconciled, peaceful and prosperous country.”
