Tamils in Vavuniya marked Maaveerar Naal at the Eechankulam Thuyilum Illam and in a service in Vavuniya Town. Eechankulam was the only Thuyilum Illam to be built by the LTTE in Vavuniya. The events included traditional observances such as lighting of the sacrificial lamp and distributing saplings to families of Maaveerar.
Tamil National Alliance MP Shanthi Skandarajah, speaking in Sri Lanka’s parliament today, called on Sri Lanka to allow Tamils in the North and east to visit cemeteries to commemorate their war dead.
Ms Skandarajah, stressed the need to allow them to restore cemeteries that were destroyed reports DailyMirror.lk.
Thousands of local residents and families of the Maaveerar gathered at the Thuyilum Illams (LTTE resting homes) and memorial sites across Jaffna district today to mark Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal).
Many wept at the traditional Thuyilum Illam song played whilst lamps were lit by make shift tombstones.
More than 10,000 people gathered at the Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam this evening to mark Maaveerar Naal and pay respects to those who gave their lives fighting for Tamil liberation.
Sri Lanka's minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka on Monday called on the government to take legal action against Tamils commemorating fallen LTTE cadres on Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal).
"Anyone commemorating the LTTE must be held responsible for the assassinations committed by the LTTE during the war," Mr Champika was quoted by the Colombo Gazette as saying.
Final preparations were underway this morning at Thuyilum Illams and memorial sites across the North-East ahead of commemorative events marking Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal) today.