The tumultuous and tragic war in Sri Lanka was waged for decades. It has been several months since the Sri Lankan President announced that he would close the detention camps and release the detainees. It has been a few months since the President won re-election. It has been one year and nothing has changed for the Tamils, except for more bloodshed and tears.

On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Tamils, peace activists, government officials and other concerned citizens gathered worldwide to remember the 40,000 Tamils who lost their lives and the 50,000 who were severely wounded, while at least 100,000 more still remain in the Sri Lankan barbed-wire camps. During the global remembrance on May 18, which has been declared as International War Crimes Day, Toronto held its own memorial at Queen’s Park. Numerous speakers, ranging from Toronto Councillor and Toronto Transit Commission Chairman Adam Giambrone to Markham Councillor Logan Kanapathi to various youth activists across the Greater Toronto Area, urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper and international bodies to investigate the alleged war crimes of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and others involved.