‘Annai’ Poopathy remembered in North-East

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 April 2003, 00:05 GMT]
Ceremonies to mark the remembrance day of Mrs. Kanapathipillai Poopathy, a grandmother who fasted unto death against the atrocities of the Indian Peace Keeping Force and sacrificed her life in 1988, commenced on Thursday throughout the North-East, sources said.

Mrs. Poopathy, a 56-year old grandmother at the time of her death, has come to be known a 'Annai' (Mother) Poopathy in the North-East. She commenced a fast-unto-death campaign at the Mamangam temple in Batticaloa on March 19, 1988 and continued her fast until she died on April 19,1988.

Red and yellow flags were flown and pictures of Annai Poopathy were placed at important locations and junctions throughout the Vanni region for the public to pay their respects.

The ceremonies are being conducted also in the Sri Lankan military-controlled areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

Arrangements have been made to commemorate Annai Poopathy on a grand scale on the day of remembrance on Saturday, April 19, sources said.