Thousands gathered in Nallur, Jaffna this evening to mark Maaveerar Naal.
Jaffna Mayor V Mannivannan presided over the lighting of the sacrificial lamp.
Thousands gathered in Koppay to commemorate the Tamil lives that were sacrificed in the liberation struggle. A Sri Lankan military base now stands on top of Koppay Thuyilum Illam after it was destroyed by the Sri Lankan state at the end of the armed conflict. Tamil National People's Front MPs Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Selvarajah Kajendran joined the masses to pay their respects.
In Ellankulam, where thousands gathered, the sacrificial flame was lit by the mother of Maaveerar Major Sothiya, the commander of the LTTE's first women's unit.
In Chatty Thuyilum Illam, locals restored salvageable tombstones as a centre-piece for people to light lamps and lay garlands.
Commemorations also took place in Kodikamam, where the Thuyilum Illam has been destroyed by the Sri Lankan army and is occupied by the 522 brigade headquarters.
A tribute to Sea Tigers and Sea Black Tigers was held on the coast of Navatkuli.
Hundreds gathered at Jaffna University to pay their respects.
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In the morning, the mother of fallen senior LTTE fighter Captain Pandithar joined local politicians to pay tribute to the first Maaveerar, Lt. Shankar, on the 40th anniversary of his death at the ruins of his ancestral home.
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