In several places across Jaffna, thousands of Tamils gathered to mark Maaveerar Naal and pay tribute to the fallen fighters of the Tamil independence struggle.

Thousands of Tamils gathered at Aadikaattiveli Thuyilum Illam amidst the heavy rainfall to commemorate Maaveerar Naal where the sacrificial lamp was lit by the mother of a fallen LTTE cadre.

Thousands of British Tamils gathered across the UK to commemorate Maaveerar Naal. 

London,UK

Hundreds of Tamils gathered at the Kanchikudiyaru Thuyilum Illam in Amparai today to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the Tamil liberation struggle, despite Sri Lankan intelligence surveillance earlier this week.

Events took place across Vavuniya district to mark Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes' Day - a day observed annually by the Tamil nation to remember the Tamil fighters who gave their lives in the liberation struggle. 

Braving heavy rains, hundreds of Tamil people gathered at Eechankulam Thuyilum Illam to mark the day. 

Remembrance events have taken place across Tamil Eelam and around the world today, to mark Maaveerar Naal or Great Heroes’ Day, paying tribute to the men and women who died in the independence struggle.

British MPs commemorated Maaveerar naal with messages of support for the Tamil people's pursuit of justice and self-determination, today, as thousands across the UK marked Great Heroes' Day

Dame Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, extended her support for the continued pursuit of justice and self-determination and highlighted the importance of remembrance on this day. 

Preparations at Mulankaavil thuyilum illam, in Kilinochchi, have been completed ahead of Maaveerar Naal commemorations expected to take place later today. 

Across the thuyilum illam - resting place - red and yellow flags have been raised and a makeshift monument made up of the destroyed gravestones stands tall for people to offer their respects. 

Sri Lanka's intelligence officers are surveilling Tamil organisers at the Kanchikudiyaru thuyilum illam, in an attempt to intimidate Tamils remembering fallen cadres.