Thousands pay homage to Brigadier Balraj

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 May 2008, 21:03 GMT]
Several thousand members of general public filed past the casket Wednesday morning in Mallaawi, Vanni to pay their last respects to Brigadier Balraj, a senior and a special commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who passed away Tuesday of a sudden heart attack in Vanni. Meanwhile, a number of Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jet fighters flew over the skies in provocative act to intimidate the public Thursday afternoon.



Colonel Ramesh, one of Senior LTTE commanders, eulogized Brig. Balraj at the event.

The casket containing the remains of Brig.Balraj was later taken to Ki'linochchi Wednesday afternoon 2:00 p.m. where more than 10,000 people paid their last respects. The casket was later taken to Vaddakkachchi at about 6:40 p.m. where a huge crowd gathered to pay their last respects.

The casket was taken Thursday afternoon 2:00 p.m. from Mallaawi to Ki'linochchi Cooperative Society accompanied by percussion band.

The Pon.Thiyagam, Director of the secretariat of Tamil Eelam Heroes Resting Homes Secretariat, lit the common flame. Chandrasegaram and Gnanasekaram, siblings of late Brigadier Balraj, lit the flame of sacrifice, and garlanded the remains.

Col.Theepan, LTTE commander for Northern Region, and several LTTE military commanders for the Northern Front including Colonel Mugunthan and Colonel Kumunan laid garlands over the remains of late Brigadier Balraj.

The event was presided by C.Navaratnarajah, President of Ki’linochchi Traders Association.



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