Tamils in Jaffna are rallying through the town today in protest of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day, which is regarded as a 'black day' for Tamils.
The protest began outside the University of Jaffna, where black flags were hoisted at the campus to mark the occassion.
Businesses in Jaffna expressed their solidarity with the protesters by carrying out a hartal - a day long shutdown- across Jaffna.
Sri Lanka's Independence Day is deemed a 'black day' for the Tamil nation as it continues to be occupied by the Sri Lankan military and lacks basic rights as well as the right to self-determination.
Protesters paid their respects as they passed through the Chemmani massacre memorial which is dedicated to Krishanthi Kumaraswamy, a Tamil school girl who was raped and murdered by Sri Lankan soldiers in 1996. Three of her family members that had gone looking for her were also murdered.
Sri Lankan police ramped up their presence in the town in an attempt to break up the rally. State intelligence officers who were also present, took photographs and videos of those participating in the rally.
Meanwhile, the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) held a protest outside the Jaffna District office to reject the unitary structure of the state and the 13th Amendment.
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The North to East rally which began in Jaffna this morning ended in Iranaimadu in Kilinochchi this evening. Protesters will begin their rally tomorrow morning from Iranaimadu and will end on February 7 in Batticaloa, in the Eastern province.