Sri Lankan soldiers took photographs of Tamils as they began clearing the Theravil Thuyilum Illam (LTTE martyr resting places) this morning ahead of Maaveerar Naal.
Maaveerar Naal, or Great Heroes Day, falls on November 27, and is observed in remembrance of the war heroes who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for liberation.
Parents of fallen cadres and Tamil civil and social activists paid their respects before they began clearing the area.
Theravil Thuyilum Illam was formerly a large-scale cemetery, part of which has now been built over with an army camp.
In previous years, Sri Lankan security forces have intensified their presence across the North-East in the lead up to and on Maaveerar Naal in an attempt to repress Tamil memorialisation activities.
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