Tamils across Eelam and around the world marked Maaveerar Naal this year, remembering all those that gave their lives to the Tamil liberation struggle.

Authorities at the University of Jaffna have cancelled events scheduled for the rest of the day, after students broke through the gates and defied a ban on Maaveerar Naal remembrance events this morning.

Maaveerar Naal commemorations began in Jaffna this morning with locals gathering in front of a destroyed monument to Lt Col Thileepan, to pay tribute to those that died in the Tamil liberation struggle.

Flowers were laid before a portrait of Thileepan and sacrificial flame lit.

The Sri Lankan security forces reportedly destroyed preparations that were taking place at a Mannar Thuyilum Illam this week, as Tamils around the world marked Maaveerar Naal this week.

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka is to meet with Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, over the alleged abduction of an embassy employee, according to diplomatic sources in Colombo. 

Hundreds of Tamil students broke through the gates of Jaffna University to commemorate Maaveerar Naal this morning, defying a ban on entering the campus enacted by authorities yesterday.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka,  Sarah Hulton OBE and the Deputy Commissioner Tom Burn yesterday met Gotabaya Rajapaksa despite concerns over his human rights record.

Rajapaksa tweeted that the visit was to “convey good wishes on behalf of the British Government” for his election victory. 

Several Kollywood celebrities sent birthday messages to mark the 65th birthday of the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran today. Birthday wishes were sent on social media accounts from the likes of Indian actors Sibiraj Sathyaraj, G.V Prakash and film composer D.Imman.  

The Hindu said it welcomed India’s recent message to Sri Lanka’s newly elected president, which called on Colombo to meet Tamil aspirations. 

“It is particularly welcome that India has conveyed its expectations that the process of national reconciliation would be taken forward by the new regime, with a solution for the Tamil population based on equality, justice, peace and dignity at the core of it,” said The Hindu editorial last week.

British Tamil businesses have begun preparing to commemorate Maaveerar Naal by flying Tamil Eelam flags at stores across the UK.

See a selection of photos from British Tamil businesses below. 

Authorities at the University of Jaffna have declared the university premises “out of bounds” as Tamil students were preparing to commemorate Maaveerar Naal tomorrow.

Stones inscribed with the names of 25,000 Tamil liberation fighters were erected in Jaffna earlier today, as Tamils in the homeland and around the world prepare to mark Maaveerar Naal.

The University of Jaffna administration has sent round a circular, banning all Maaveerar Naal commemorations, a day before events are set to take place across the Tamil homeland and diaspora.

Maaveerar Naal - or Heroes’ Day - which is marked on November 27th, has been peacefully commemorated by students and staff of the university for several years.