After braving the Sri Lankan government's intimidatory measures in the run up to Maaveerar Naal, Eelam Tamils across the North-East, defied government bans to remember those that lost their lives in the struggle against genocide, whilst facing further intimidation and violence.
(Pictures:Tamilnet)

Families of Maaveerar remember the sacrifice of their loved ones

Speaking in Parliament today, TNA MP, Sivagnanam Sritharan, outlined that the majority of the Tamil people in the North-East had voted for the TNA to support the ideals of the LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

Sritharan further reiterated that the Tamil people had a right to commemorate the Tamil cadres that lost their lives in the ethnic conflict.

Asserting that the Tamil people had a right to commemorate the Tamil cadres that lost their lives in the ethnic conflict, Mr Sritharan said, "tomorrow, each Tamil, will think of the Maaveerar from morning till dusk."

The Sri Lankan born Tamil poet and Norwegian citizen Shanmugampillai Jayapalan, who was arrested by the Terrorist Investigative Department (TID) on Friday, will be deported by Sri Lankan immigration, confirmed the Governmen

Speaking at Youth Maaveerar Naal  hosted by Imperial College London on Monday, students representing Kings College London spoke in remembrance of those that had lost their lives fighting against the genocide of the Eelam Tamil nation.

The full speech is reproduced below:

A poem recited at Youth Maaveerar Naal held at Imperial College London earlier this week and written by a student at St George's University.

Tamil Nadu police destroying Heroes Day tombstone (All pictures: TamilWin)

Eelam Tamils in a refugee camp in Sengkalpattu, Tamil Nadu, had their annual Maveerar Naal remembrance event disrupted by Tamil Nadu police, reports TamilWin.

According to the news site, Eelam Tamils in the camp hold a memorial event every year, lighting candles at a symbolic tomb stone, but this year police interrupted the proceedings, demolished the monument and cleared away the red and yellow decorations.

Sri Lanka has banned any activities to commemorate the Tamil fighters that died in the armed conflict.

Responding to questions regarding an earlier statement which urged Sri Lanka to address human rights issues, China today reiterated its acknowledgement of progress in Sri Lanka, despite growing concerns over the deteriorating  state of reconciliation and human rights on the island.

In an emailed statement, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, claimed that the progress they saw in Sri Lanka meant that there was no change in stance, concluding, “the Sri Lankan people have the wisdom and capacity to deal appropriately with their internal affairs.”