Thousands of Tamils gathered at Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam in Kilinochchi last year.
Sri Lankan police in Jaffna have filed petitions in courts, attempting to ban Maaveerar Naal commemorations due to take place next week.
Police based in Manipay, Jaffna filed a petition at the district court in Mallakam, Jaffna claiming that the date on which Eelam Tamils around the world honour those who died in the liberation struggle, was glorifying terrorism.
Several lawyers including V. Manivannan appeared on behalf of the respondents to challenge the police petition, noting that Maaveerar Naal commemorations had been legally held across the North-East in previous years.
The Sri Lankan police attempt comes alongside a similar petition filed at the Magistrate Courts in Valvettithurai, Jaffna.
Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day - remembers those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle, and is marked on November 27, in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre, Lt Col. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.