May Day celebrated in Mannar, Pooneryn

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The May Day procession at Madhu, in the largely LTTE held Manner District, began at Thatchanamaruthamadukulam, 3 km from Madhu and proceeded to the playing fields nearby, where the LTTE's Madhu political leader unfurled the LTTE flag and addressed the gathering, said the Voice of Tigers, (VoT) in its broadcast tonight.

There was a cycle race and a marathon organised to commemorate the event and a large number of people were present at the celebrations, said the broadcast.

The VoT also mentioned May Day celebrations being held at Pooneryn, Mulangavil and Akkarayan Kulam, all areas which come within LTTE control in the north.

The procession and floats at the celebrations at Pooneryn were particularly impressive and a crowd of over 5000 were present at the venue of the meeting, said the VoT.

Pooneryn was the location of a major Sri Lankan Army camp for many years. Despite being overrun by the LTTE in 1993, it was re-established, and was a major issue in the 1995 negotiations between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government.

The SLA resisted demands it be removed, but in 1996, the camp was closed, and the LTTE moved into the area. Civilians who had fled the area have returned in the past year.