^{The father of a fallen fighter lights a flame amidst heavy wind and rain in Mullaitivu.}

Tamils across the North-East gathered at the site of destroyed cemeteries and held private commemorations at homes to mark Maaveerar Naal, paying tribute to Tamil freedom fighters even as a cyclone tore through the island.

Despite the heavy wind, rains and flooding, thousands of people came out to public commemorations held at the cemeteries that once housed the bodies of thousands of fighters. The cemeteries have been destroyed by the Sri Lankan government, with some now having military bases built on top of them.

But for weeks locals have gathered the remnants of broken tombstones and volunteers have prepared the once destroyed graveyards for this day, marking the death of the first Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre.

On November 27, 1982, Lt Shankar of the LTTE was killed. At the exact time of his death, 6.05PM, thousands of Tamils across the North-East lit lamps and bowed their heads to pay tribute to the fallen.

Heavy wind and rains continued to batter the Tamil homeland throughout the day, with some in Batticaloa travelling by boat over flooded roads to reach the sites of public commemorations. The weather did however prove too dangerous for many, with tens of thousands of people already displace. Hundreds of private commemorations took place at homes across the North-East instead.

Given the cyclone and treacherous weather conditions, there were relatively few incidents of Sri Lankan state restrictions. Earlier in the week, volunteers in Batticaloa complained of police intimidation after being summoned, whilst police in Mannar had attempted and failed to obtain a court order blocking events from taking place.

The events across the North-East took place in concert with those across the globe, with Tamils worldwide also commemorating the day.

See events from the North-East below.

Jaffna

Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Jaffna

Vavuniya

Tamils in Vavuniya mark Maaveerar Naal amidst heavy rain

Mullaitivu

Tamils brave heavy rain and winds to mark Maaveerar Naal in Mullaitivu

Amparai

Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Amparai at destroyed LTTE cemetery

Trincomalee

Hundreds gather to mark Maaveerar Naal in Trincomalee

Kilinochchi

Thousands in Kilinochchi commemorate Maaveerar Naal under heavy rain

Mannar

Mannar commemorates Maaveerar Naal despite cyclone

Batticaloa

Tamils brave floods to commemorate Maaveerar Naal in Batticaloa