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.

Marking the 33^rd Maaveerar Naal, People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) has released a statement stressing that “Maaveerar Naal still serves as a powerful display of collective defiance against the Sri Lankan state’s narrative of a defeated Tamil nation”.

In their statement, they highlight that the roots of the conflict and the current economic collapse, Sinhala Buddhist nationalism remains unaddressed.

Preparations for Maaveerara Naal continued this morning in Mullaitivu, despite intimidation from Sri Lankan police and state forces. 

Businesses in Mullaitivu have closed today to mark Maaveerar Naal, as Tamils across the northeast gathers together to pay their respects.

Mullaitivu police threatened to shoot Tamils after tearing down red and yellow flags hoisted for Maaveeral naal commerotations.

Mullaitivu police threatened to shoot Tamils after tearing down red and yellow flags hoisted for Maaveeral Naal commemorations.