Commemorations were held in Valvettithurai on Wednesday to mark the 71st birthday of Veluppillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), with dozens of locals gathering outside his ancestral home to pay tribute.
The event was led by Valvettithurai Urban Council member M. K. Sivajilingam.
The streets surrounding the site were decorated with red and yellow flags, and banners conveying birthday greetings were prominently displayed. Firecrackers were set off as part of the celebration, followed by the ceremonial cutting of a large cake. Sweets were also distributed to those in attendance.
Saplings were also handed out to participants, continuing a tradition observed across the Tamil homeland in remembrance events throughout November.
Prabhakaran’s childhood home, once a significant landmark in Valvettithurai, was demolished by the Sri Lankan state. In the days leading up to the commemoration, local residents gathered to clean the area and drape it in red and yellow bunting in preparation for the event.
