The first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle was remembered in Jaffna today, on the 41st anniversary of his death.
Locals gathered at a statue of Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran in his hometown Urumpirai in Jaffna earlier today, and commemorated his life. TNA NPC Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan, AM Shivajilingam and Pradeshiya Sabha member Sajeevan also attended the event.
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Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, a student leader, was part of the early stages of the armed struggle, which strengthened after the deaths of several Tamils at the World Tamil Conference in Jaffna in January 1974, caused by police action.
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After a previous arrest, during which he was subjected to severe torture, Sivakumaran pledged to take his own life if he was arrested again.
On June the 5th, 1974, Sivakumaran was surrounded by police and, fearing renewed torture, swallowed a cyanide capsule, taking his own life at the age of 24. Tamil youths worldwide remember his sacrifice on Student Uprising Day on June 6 every year.
Remembering Sivakumaran 40 years on (05 June 2014)