2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to lose her life in the armed struggle, was commemorated at her residence in Akkaatti, Mannar, on October 10.
The commemoration was organised by Maalathy's family and was attended by former cadres, local residents and the Chairman of Mannar West Divisional Council.
During the ceremony, a lamp was lit and flowers laid before her portrait.
Maalathy was shot in the legs on 10 October 1987 in Jaffna, during a confrontation with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). She swallowed cyanide to avoid being captured.
The following account is told by a cadre that was by her side.
"We were in our bunkers firing at the (Indian) army. Hundreds of Indian troops had jumped out of their vehicles and were firing as they moved towards us. Mortar shells were exploding everywhere. We knew the army was advancing quickly. Maalathy was shot in both legs. She couldn't move and she was bleeding profusely. Realising that she was mortally wounded, she swallowed cyanide. A decision had been made to withdraw because we were heavily out-numbered. Myself and another girl Viji went over to carry Maalathy. Maalathy refused to come with us. She begged us to leave her and asked us to withdraw. Nevertheless, we lifted Maalathy and carried her and when we arrived at a safe place she was dead."
(Women Fighters of Liberation Tigers, Adele Anne Balasingham, 1993)
Read more here: Remembering 2nd Lt Maalathy.
