Commemoration of tsunami victims: Emotional celebration in Aalen town church

On December 26, 2024, a commemoration ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia and the dictatorship in Sri Lanka took place in the Aalen town church. The service was held on Boxing Day and brought together Tamil community members from across the Ostalbkreis, including Bundestag member Leni Breymaier and local city councilors.

The service included readings and intercessions in German and Tamil. Thanabalasingam Vyramutha spoke about the current situation in Sri Lanka and the ongoing war against the Tamil people. Muthu urged those present not to vacation in Sri Lanka or other countries where human rights are violated.

Remembering the victims

Retired pastor In his speech, Bernhard Richter remembered the 15,000 to 20,000 Tamils ​​who lost their lives 20 years ago, as well as other victims of terror and violence. Richter emphasized hope and trust in God, who does not leave people alone in difficult times. After the service, participants laid flowers and lit tea lights at the baptismal font to remember the deceased.

The tsunami that struck the shores of Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004 claimed 35,322 lives and displaced over half a million people from their homes. The disaster was triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake in the Indian Ocean and killed a total of 220,000 people in several countries. At the time, Sri Lanka was mired in a long civil war that ended in 2009.

Tsunami survivors have organized memorial events in the years since, with candle vigils and minutes of silence, while also remembering the many who died during the disaster. This year, election posters and election propaganda may have overshadowed the commemorative events, such as AlJazeera reported.