Thousands of people gathered at the Alankulam Thuyilum Illam in Sampoor, Trincomalee to commemorate Maaveerar Naal despite heavy rain.

For the first time since 2004, the Alankulam Thuyilum Illam was cleaned and restoration efforts were taken by a committee comprised of former cadres, civil society and parents of Maaveerar.

Events were held across Batticaloa District today at Thuyilum Illams and in village memorial sites commemorating Maaveerar Naal.

Thousands of local residents and families of the Maaveerar gathered at the Thuyilum Illams (LTTE resting homes) and memorial sites across Jaffna district today to mark Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal). 

Many wept at the traditional Thuyilum Illam song played whilst lamps were lit by make shift tombstones. 

Events took place at Thuyilum Illams and memorial sites across the North-East, which were destroyed by Sri Lankan armed forces, but cleared and decorated over recent weeks. 

More than 10,000 people gathered at the Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam this evening to mark Maaveerar Naal and pay respects to those who gave their lives fighting for Tamil liberation.

Sri Lanka's minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka on Monday called on the government to take legal action against Tamils commemorating fallen LTTE cadres on Tamil National Remembrance Day  (Maaveerar Naal). 

"Anyone commemorating the LTTE must be held responsible for the assassinations committed by the LTTE during the war," Mr Champika was quoted by the Colombo Gazette as saying. 

His comments come as tens of thousands of Tamils across the North-East gathered at Thuyilum Illams and memorial sites to honour Maaveerar. 

Maaveerar Naal headlines dominate Tamil newspapers in the North-East this morning.

The family members of Maaveerar were honoured during an event at Navalar Hall in Jaffna earlier today.

The function, organised by the Tamil National People's Front, saw families place garlands in remembrance of their loved once.

Theeruvil, Vadamarachchi 

Final preparations were underway this morning at Thuyilum Illams and memorial sites across the North-East ahead of commemorative events marking Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal) today. 

Several people gathered outside the site of a destroyed LTTE cemetery in Kodikamam, Jaffna to commemorate the Tamil Remembrance Day.

NPC Councillor Shivajilingam led the event at the site, now occupied by a military camp.

Several soldiers were seen taking pictures of all those participating.

Sri Lankan military officers stationed in vehicles next to Koappay Thuyilum Illam photographed Tamils who had arrived to light a lamp ahead of this evening's commemoration of Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal).