Thousands of Tamils gathered across the Tamil homeland to mark Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day - and remember those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for liberation.
Maaveerar Naal is marked on November 27 in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre (LTTE), Lt. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982.
Kilinochchi
Drone footage shows thousands of Tamils gathered at Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam in Kilinochchi at 18:05, the exact time the first Maaveerar, Lt Shankar, died.
Tamil Eelam remembers - thousands gathered at Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam at 18.05, commemorating the first Maaveerar who fell in battle 40 years ago and the thousands of fighters after who gave their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle. pic.twitter.com/yLwSebYwBW
— Tamil Guardian (@TamilGuardian) November 27, 2022
Kanagapuram, a short distance from Kilinochchi town was one of the largest Thuyilum Illams built and maintained by the LTTE in the North-East.
Jaffna
Remembrance events took place across Jaffna district to pay tribute to fallen Tamil fighters.
Residents of Neduntheevu faced threats and intimidation from Sri Lankan security forces while holding commemorations.
Mullaitivu
Tamils gathered defiantly at Thuylim Illams across Mullaitivu despite Sri Lankan police intimidation and surveillance on and in the lead up to the day of remembrance.
Earlier today, Sri Lankan police threatened to shoot Tamils who were making preparations in the district and the tore down red and yellow flags that were hoisted for Maaveerar Naal.
Vavuniya
Maaveerar Naal was marked at Eechankulam, the only Thuyilum Illam built by the LTTE in the Vavuniya district.
Maaveerar Naal commemoration at Eechankulam, the only Thuyilum Illam to have been built by the LTTE in the Vavuniya district. pic.twitter.com/hQmsrKsZEd
— Tamil Guardian (@TamilGuardian) November 27, 2022
Sri Lankan police stormed a commemoration event organised by the Tamil families of the disppeared and confiscated the centre piece Maaveerar portrait.
Lamps were lit and the 'Thuyium Illam' song played at Vavuniya city hall as families of the disappeared observed Maaveerar Naal pic.twitter.com/oxAOhzO0Uk
— Tamil Guardian (@TamilGuardian) November 27, 2022
Batticaloa
A series of events took place across Batticaloa.
Trincomalee
Tamils gathered in Sampur, Trincomalee and laid flowers for their fallen loved ones.
Amparai
Hundreds of Eelam Tamils gathered in Kanchikkudiyaru, Amparai, to commemorate the day.
See more from the East here.
Mannar
Maaveerar Naal commemorations were held across Mannar as thousands gathered at the district's Thuyilum Illams.
UK
Thousands of British Tamils gathered at the London ExCel on Maaveerar Naal to pay their respects to fallen cadres.
Last week, British Tamil activists organised for a boat to carry a memorial message to mark Maaveerar Naal. The boat passed Westminster and carried with it the Tamil Eelam flag, a karthigaopoo and the message "we remember".
France
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French Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal.
Switzerland
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Swiss Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal.
Italy
Italian Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal
Canada
Canadian Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal
USA
Hundreds of Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal in New York.
Australia
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Australian Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal.
New Zealand
Tamils in New Zealand commemorate Maaveerar Naal.
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