Jaffna Great Heroes day celebrations draw large crowd

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 November 2003, 11:03 GMT]
Despite heavy down pour and interference by Sri Lanka Government security forces in the Jaffna district people in large numbers attended the events at the Heroes' cemetaries (Maveerar Thuyilum Illam) Thursday evening on the Great Heroes Day and paid their homage to the martyrs of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who sacrificed their lives in the armed Tamil freedom struggle, sources in Jaffna said.

Parents and relatives of LTTE martyrs assembled in front of their children's tombs in four Heroes cemetaries from morning till late in the night Thursday and paid homage, sources said.

There was only a minimal presence of SLA soldiers in civilian populated areas in Jaffna district on Thursday, civil sources said.

In Vadamarachchi division parents and relatives of martyrs were taken in a procession to Udupiddy Ellankulam Heroes cemetary from Navindil Thamotharampillai Vidiyalayam with the LTTE band music in attendance. Sea Tigers commander Cheliyan lit the flame of sacrifice. Parents of martyrs from Batticaloa, Amparai, Trincomalee and Vanni region participated in the event.

Parents of martyrs were taken in a procession to Kopay Heroes cemetary from Kopay Teacher Training College. Deputy head of the LTTE Political division Mr.S.Thangan lit the flame of sacrifice.

In islets, Great Heros Day final day celebrations were held at Velanai-Chaatti Heores cemetary where the Kayts LTTE activist Mr.S.Kannan lit the flame of sacrifice.

Great Heros Day final celebration was held at the renovated Kodikamam Heroes Memorial in Thenmaradchchi area. LTTE activist Mr. Veeman lit the flame of sacrifice. The SLA destroyed this memorial during its military operation in 1996, and it was rebuilt later sources said.