Maaveerar Naal commemorations were held across Mannar as thousands gathered at the district's Thuyilum Illams.

Local politicians, civil society and clergy joined locals to commemorate the day at Aatkattiveli Thuyilum Illam and at Pandivirichaan Thuyilum Illam, where TNA MP Charles Nirmalanathan joined locals.

Photos by Sagi Thilipkumar

In the Swiss city of Fribourg, Eelam Tamils have gathered en mass to mark the 33rd Maaveerar Naal and to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for a free Tamil Eelam.

Eelam Tamils in Kilinochchi gathered to mark Maaveerar Naal and remember the sacrifices made by those who died in the armed struggle.

Maaveerar Naal was marked at Eechankulam, the only Thuyilum Illam to have been built by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Vavuniya district.

A commemorate event was also held in Kalikkaadu in remembrance of the Maaveerar.

In Trincomalee and Batticaloa, Eelam Tamils gather to mark the 33^rd Maaveerar Naal and to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives fighting for Tamil liberation.

A flame was lit in Thandiyadi, Batticaloa at 6:05pm to mark the exact moment Lt Shankar, the first LTTE cadre died in 1982. pic.twitter.com/lCthf2P80J

Hundreds of students gathered at Jaffna University to mark Maaveeraar Naal. 

Thousands gathered in Nallur, Jaffna this evening to mark Maaveerar Naal. 

Jaffna Mayor V Mannivannan presided over the lighting of the sacrificial lamp.

Thousands of Tamils gathered in eleven LTTE cemeteries, 'Thuyilum Illam', and significant places across the Mullaitivu District to mark Maaveerar Naal today.

Shops remained closed in the district's commercial centres while homes and temples were also lit with lamps to mark the day.

(Photos above from Mulliyawalai Thuyilum Illam)

Thousands of Tamils gathered across the Tamil homeland to mark Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day - and remember those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for liberation. 

Students and family members gathered to remember the Mullaitivu Ayyankkulam massacre in which 6 students and 2 healthcare workers were killed by the Sri Lankan army.  

On November 27, 2007, 8 people, including six students and two staff, were killed in a claymore attack on an ambulance by the Sri Lankan army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) in Ayyankulam area of Mullaitivu.