In May 2019, the Tamil Information Centre organised a 2-day exhibition in London which was attended by hundreds of people. Marking ten years since the war ended in Sri Lanka, the exhibition promoted Tamil history and culture, amplified political and social struggles, and demanded justice for the decades of human rights abuses throughout the island.
The exhibition included artwork, informative displays, documentaries, artefacts and books curated by artists, researchers, academics and activists from all over the world. Together they focused on the following themes: ancient history of Ilankai Tamils, political history, political resistance, consequences of the war, home and culture and 'Mullivaikkal', a room looking at the final stages of the war.
There were also creative workshops for children focusing on the concept of home, Tamil identity, memories of being in Ilankai, and talks by speakers including Jeremy Corbyn MP and Sir Ed Davey MP.
The exhibition was organised to create awareness of the coordinated and planned actions of the Sri Lankan state - and its global backers - to destroy the essential foundations of the Tamil nation: personal security, health and dignity of the Tamil people; their political and social institutions; their culture, language, religion, and economy.
The next phase of the exhibition is for it to turn into a 'travelling exhibition'. TIC has already received requests to arrange tours of the exhibition in places as far and wide as Paris, Toronto and Oslo. The end goal is to set up a museum in London where Tamil history and culture can be recorded and displayed permanently.
