Tamils in Naples, Italy marked Maaveerar Naal - Great Heroes Day - to commemorate the tens of thousands of cadres who laid down their lives in the struggle for Tamil liberation.
The Committee against Torture noted that Sri Lanka was amongst the nations that failed to submit their report to the Committee within the allocated deadline, during a discussion held on Tuesday.
French Tamils commemorated Maaveerar Naal on November 27th by lighting candles and observing a moment of silence for fallen cadres who sacrificed their lives for Tamil liberation.
Flowers were laid at the gravestones of Captain Gajan, Lt. Colonel Nathan and Colonel Parithi.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L.Peiris said that the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will not be rescinded in a meeting with the Sri Lankan Collective for Consensus (SLCC), a civil society organisation.
Private commemorations to mark Maaveerar Naal were held across the North-East on November 27th, amidst a Sri Lankan military crackdown and fears of intimidation, harassment and arrest.
In Kilinochchi, there were reports that the Sri Lankan military had blocked access to destroyed LTTE cemeteries, where locals had gathered in previous years to pay tribute to those that gave their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle.
Local Tamils managed to block off another land grab attempt by the Sri Lankan military this week, as armed troops from the navy squared off against demonstrators in Jaffna.
Residents state that Sri Lanka’s land survey department was attempting to acquire at least 1 acre of private land for the navy in Mathagal, Jaffna.
Tamil families of the disappeared held a protest in Jaffna yesterday calling on the Sri Lankan government to reveal the whereabouts of their loved ones who were forcibly disappeared during and at the end of the armed conflict.
The UK Home Office has granted asylum to Tamil scientist and torture survivor, Dr Nadarajah Muhunthan, 47, and his family, following mounting criticism against the department’s serious procedural errors which placed the family at risk of deportation to Sri Lanka.
German Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Holger Seubert, has met with the Mayor of Jaffna, V. Manivannan, and Governor of the Northern Province, Jeeva Theagarajah amidst concerns over Sri Lanka's dire human rights record.
Following the announcement that Police Scotland would not renew its controversial training contract with Sri Lanka, members of the Scottish parliament are demanding that all training contracts must be investigated and approved by Holyrood.
Across the Eastern Province, small scale Maaveerar Naal commemorations were held as a large Sri Lankan security presence and a flurry of court orders led to many Tamils fearing attending large scale remembrance events.
Former Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament P. Ariyanethran and Manmunai South West Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman C. Pushpalingam were amongst those paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to the Tamil liberation struggle in a small scale private ceremony in Batticaloa
Journalists from the Batticaloa District Tamil Journalists' Union marched through Gandhi Park on Monday, to protest against the attack of fellow Tamil journalist Viswalingham Viswachandran for taking a photo of a Mullivaikkal road sign last week.
Maaveerar Naal commemorations commenced despite tensions in Mullaitivu, following the assault of a journalist and the arrest of another prominent Tamil activist, with a range of remembrance activities take place across the district.
Flowers were scattered at Nandikadal lagoon at sunrise by ormer Northern Provincial Councillor T. Ravikaran amidst Sri Lankan military presence.
The Committee against Torture noted that Sri Lanka was amongst the nations that failed to submit their report to the Committee within the allocated deadline, during a discussion held on Tuesday.
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