{"id":18956,"date":"2026-05-26T06:48:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=18956"},"modified":"2026-05-26T06:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:48:28","slug":"this-is-not-a-may-18th-commemoration-in-the-north-this-is-a-celebration-held-in-tamil-nadu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/this-is-not-a-may-18th-commemoration-in-the-north-this-is-a-celebration-held-in-tamil-nadu\/","title":{"rendered":"Viral Photo of Child in LTTE Uniform Is Not from Sri Lanka\u2019s May 18 Commemorations!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Every year on May 18, Tamil communities in Sri Lanka\u2019s North and East observe Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day<\/a>, a day of remembrance for Tamil civilians who died in the final stages of the 2009 war in Mullaitivu. This year, a photograph circulated widely on social media appearing to show a person holding a small child dressed in an LTTE uniform, with the caption \u201cThe revival of Thabuttegama Kaithang in 1\u00bd years<\/em>.\u201d The posts implied that under the current government, such scenes of openly displaying the uniform of Sri Lanka\u2019s banned terrorist organization, were taking place. However, our investigation found the image to be from India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following posts went viral alongside the May 18 Mullivaikkal commemorations, framing the photograph as evidence of LTTE symbols being openly displayed at Sri Lanka\u2019s northern commemorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The responses to these posts indicate that many have assumed that this photo shows a celebration that took place in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fact-Check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memorials are held among the Tamil community in Sri Lanka every year on May 18th to remember all the Tamil people who died in the final battle of the war in 2009, in Mullaitivu, Mullevaikkal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Such Imagery Was Seen at Sri Lanka\u2019s May 18 Mullivaikkal Commemorations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the LTTE is a banned organization in this country, we investigated veracity of the image of a small child wearing the LTTE’s uniform, and its attribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We reviewed recent videos of the Mullivaikkal commemorations held in Sri Lanka on May 18. People were seen lighting lamps to remember those who died in the war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n