Politicians from all major Tamil parties commemorated Maaveerar Naal across the North-East amidst a military crackdown by the Sri Lankan state. 

See the various commemorations that took place across the homeland by politicians below.

Tamil efforts to commemorate Maaveerar Naal “puts them at the forefront of the fight against hegemony and authoritarianism” said People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), in a statement released today condemning the “exceptionally vicious response” of the Sri Lankan security forces.

For the first time in decades there will be no mass gatherings across the world today, as Eelam Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal. In the Tamil homeland, the return of the Rajapaksas has plunged the North-East back into a familiar repression. Many will be marking the day in secret, fearing the threat of Sri Lankan military reprisals. Pandemic restrictions around the world have also meant that the well-established large scale events held by the diaspora have been moved to virtual spaces. This relative absence of public display, however, does not detract from the solemnity of this day.

Instead, the will to overcome these obstacles and commemorate the sacrifices demonstrates the tenacity of the Tamil nation.

Tamils across the homeland lit lamps and laid flowers in their homes to pay tribute to the lives lost in the Tamil struggle for liberation. 

Families held small, private commemorations in their homes as Sri Lanka has thwarted attempts to commemorate the fallen publicly by imposing court ordered bans and ramping up their surveillance and intimidation.

A crowd of Sri Lankan policemen entered the Tamil National People's Front office in Kokkuvil, Jaffna, in an attempt to bar Maaveerar Naal commemorations.

This evening Jaffna Police entered our office in Kokkuvil in an attempt to stop commemorations. pic.twitter.com/lJmqknn6Az

Parliamentarians and government ministers from the Conservative, Liberal Democrats and Labour party across the UK marked Maaveerar Naal with messages of tributes and solidarity to the Tamil community in the UK and in the Tamil homeland for those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for freedom. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey, Minister and Conservatives MP Paul Scully and Labour Siobhain McDonagh were among the politicians to send messages this year. 

A Tamil priest at the Bishop of Jaffna’s house who was arrested yesterday by Sri Lanka's security forces, after decorations had been set up for a private Maaveerar Naal commemoration event, has now been released on bail. 

Sri Lankan police across Batticaloa have arrested 19 people for allegedly posting birthday wishes online for Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and have earmarked a further 55 people for arrest.

Dozens of Sri Lankan soldiers surrounded a home in Mullaitivu this evening as a private Maaveerar Naal commemoration was taking place, in an act of intimidation amidst a military crackdown in the North-East.

Diaspora Tamils gathered across the world to observe Maaveerar Naal and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for freedom. 

See events from around the world below.

British Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal

Several Tamil newspapers marked Maaveerar Naal on their front pages today, despite the Sri Lankan military blocking commemoration events.

The commemoration by the Tamil media houses comes as Sri Lankan courts barred Maaveerar Naal events and the Sri Lankan military ramped up its presence in the Tamil homeland, blocking access to LTTE cemeteries.

See a selection of newspapers and their front pages below.

As coronavirus pandemic regulations restrict mass gatherings, British Tamils are holding an online commemorative event to mark Maaveerar Naal today.

Watch proceedings live above.

The Sri Lankan army threatened business owners in Mullaitivu who had closed in respect of Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil national remembrance day of fallen LTTE fighters.

Amidst an intensifying crackdown in the North-East over the commemoration of Maaveerar Naal, this year marks the first time since 2016 that Tamils have been forbidden from mourning their loved ones at their thuyilum illams (resting places). 

Several arrests have taken place and homes have been raided across the North-East today, as the Sri Lankan military began a crackdown in the Tamil homeland, as Eelam Tamils around the world commemorate Maaveerar Naal.

Access to the destroyed cemeteries where tens of thousands of Tamil fighters were buried across the North-East has been blocked off by the Sri Lankan military, as a flurry of court orders last week banned commemorative events from taking place.

Though private events were allowed, the Sri Lankan security forces carried out several raids, arrests and were heavily deployed. Amongst those arrested is a Jaffna-based priest, who had set up for a remembrance event at the Bishop of Jaffna’s home.