The end of the war in Sri Lanka brought untold devastation for the Tamil people. Tamils in the North-East continue to be amongst the most marginalized in Sri Lanka, and continue to struggle for land, memory, and freedom.
We at People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) see ourselves as part of these ongoing struggles, using our role as members of the Tamil diaspora and as a Tamil-run NGO to work in political and policy spaces to advocate for justice, accountability, and self-determination.
PEARL is a DC-based organization founded by young Tamil activists who visited the North-East of Sri Lanka in the early 2000s, and were profoundly impacted by the struggles faced by the Tamil people during that time. Since 2005, we have been engaging in targeted research and advocacy efforts, and have since 2020 expanded the scope of our work to include Canada, the UK, Australia and Switzerland. Our research touches on topics such as militarization, Sinhalization, memorialization, and sexual violence against Tamils in the North-East. We also work with a Legal Team to pursue various for legal accountability, including at the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice etc.
We are made up of a diverse group of Tamil activists from across the globe, sharing a passion for justice and a deep commitment to our people.
Come join us on Saturday October 22, 2022 where we will reflect on what it means to do this advocacy work, and to be a part of a movement towards Tamil rights and justice. We will be celebrating our work with a musical fundraising event, accompanied by a community of Tamil musicians from Toronto alongside special guest Sahi Siva.
Enjoy laid-back acoustic versions of our favourite Tamil songs, as well as poetry and reflections from the PEARL team about our work, and the role that all of us play in sustaining and growing our struggle. Light refreshments catered by @thegrub_guru will be served.
Event: PEARL Unplugged: Music, Makkal, and Movement-making
Date/Time: Saturday October 22, 2022 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: CTCC Event Centre, 80 Travail Road #Unit 1 & 2 Markham, ON L3S 3J1
Tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pearl-unplugged-tickets-424236862877
Donate to PEARL: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/1847552
