Trinco remembers tsunami victims

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2005, 22:48 GMT]
Religious dignitaries of all faiths and communities participated in the national mourning day held in Trincomalee playgrounds Wednesday evening and paid respect to the dead in the December 26 Tsunami which devastated the coastal villages in the Trincomalee district. The Trincomalee Tamil Peoples' Forum and Federation of Trincomalee Tamil Fisheries Societies organized the event, sources said.

At the commencement Sri Ravaichchandrakurukal of Paththirakali Amman Temple, Rev. Ratnakeerthi Thera of Mihindupura Buddhist Shrine, Moulavi Ali Zahir Mowlana of Jumma Mosque and Rev Fr.Annadas, Parish Priest of Orr's Hill Child Jesus Church blessed the occasion after lighting the traditional oil lamp.

Later a girl, who lost several of her relatives in the Tsunami disaster, lit the common flame of sacrifice, sources said.

Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, parliamentarian and the leader of the Upcountry Peoples front (UPF), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham (Trincomalee district) and Mr.S. Jeyanandamoorthy (Batticaloa district) participated in the event along with Mr.S.Elilan. LTTE Trincomalee district political head and Ms Kaaronja, LTTE Trincomalee district women political wing head, sources said.

Students were seen holding candlelight as a mark of respect to the dead in the tsunami numbering about one thousand in the Trincomalee district, sources said.

The public meeting presided by Mr.V.Vigneswaran, President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Forum extended till 9 pm, sources said.