On December 26th, 2004, over 35,000 people perished during the catastrophic tsunami that hit the coasts of the North-East and South of the island of Sri Lanka.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said five days after the disaster that almost two thirds of those killed across the island were in the Tamil homeland of the North-East.

Today marks 20 years since Tamil politician Joseph Pararajasingham was assassinated by Sri Lankan government-aligned paramilitary men in 2005.

^{Image courtesy of Tamil Narratives}

Today marks 19 years since the passing of the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Anton Balasingham. 

Cyclone Ditwah continues to unleash heavy rains, floods and landslides across the island, in one of the worst weather disasters in recent years.

Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed on Friday evening that 69 people have been killed, with 34 still missing and more than 219,000 individuals affected.

Photograph: Koppay Thuyilum Illam, Jaffna, before its destruction by the Sri Lankan Army

As the Tamil nation prepares to mark Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes’ Day - on November 27, Tamils in the North-East will gather at Thuyilum Illams across the homeland to remember the Tamil fighters that sacrificed their lives for liberation.