C Joseph Vijay on Sunday paid tribute to former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam founder V Prabhakaran on the occasion of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, observed annually on May 18 by Sri Lankan Tamils across the world.
In a post on X, Vijay referred to Mullivaikkal, the coastal region in Sri Lanka where the final phase of the civil war ended in 2009 and Prabhakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan military.
“We will carry the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts! We will always stand in solidarity for the rights of our Tamil kin living across the sea!” Vijay wrote.
Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day Explained
May 18 is observed by sections of Sri Lankan Tamils and the global Tamil diaspora as Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, also referred to by some groups as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.
The day marks the end of the nearly three-decade-long Sri Lankan civil war in 2009, particularly remembering thousands of Tamil civilians who were reportedly killed, injured, or went missing during the final military offensive in Mullivaikkal.
The conflict, which initially began as a political movement demanding a separate Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka amid allegations of discrimination, later escalated into a prolonged armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.
LTTE Remains Banned In India
The LTTE continues to remain a banned organisation in India because of its involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
V Prabhakaran was named as the prime accused in the assassination case.
Because of the sensitivity surrounding the issue, mainstream political parties in Tamil Nadu have traditionally avoided publicly appearing supportive of Prabhakaran or the LTTE.
Vijay’s Remarks Revive Political Debate
Vijay’s latest remarks have once again brought the Sri Lankan Tamil issue into political focus in Tamil Nadu.
Although the issue did not emerge as a major campaign plank during the recent Assembly elections, Vijay had previously touched upon it during a speech in Nagapattinam in September 2025.
At the time, he referred to Eelam Tamils as “umbilical-cord kin” and said they were suffering after losing a leader who had shown them “motherly affection”, widely interpreted as a reference to Prabhakaran.
“It is our duty to raise our voice for them,” Vijay had said then.
The actor-turned-politician currently heads a minority government supported by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a party often associated with pro-LTTE positions.
Sri Lankan Tamil Issue Continues To Resonate
Even years after the end of the Sri Lankan civil war, the Tamil issue continues to evoke strong emotional and political responses in parts of Tamil Nadu and among Tamil communities globally.
Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day events are held annually in several countries to remember civilians affected during the final stages of the war and to call attention to demands for justice and accountability.