Sri Lanka’s justice minister Wijeyadas Rajapakshe assured the Sri Lankan public that there would be no threat to “national security” if the government were to release Tamil political prisoners, in comments to the media on Thursday.

Speaking in Sinhala at a special press conference held at the Parliament complex, the minister pointed to previous release by the Sri Lankan government under Mahinda Rajapaksa as examples of the safe release of those held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

However, he stressed that those who were convicted under the much criticised PTA would not be released.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said the continued attacks by the Sri Lankan navy on Indian fishermen are “creating a sense of fear and unrest among the fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu,” after further arrests by the Sri Lankan military on Thursday.

A group of 15 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy whilst fishing in the Palk Straits in separate incidents on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating it was “imperative that the issue of the release of these boats is taken up with the highest levels of the Sri Lankan administration and the immediate release of these boats is ensured.”

Tamil political prisoners have expressed their heartbreak at the suicide of 18 year old Rajeswaran Senthuran, who took his own life in protest at their prolonged detention.

In a statement, the prisoners requested that no more supporters should resort to such tragic measures.

The schoolboys death should resound loudly for the oppressive Sri Lankan government, they said.

The funeral of Rajeswaran Senthuran, the 18-year-old schoolboy who committed suicide in protest at the ongoing detention of Tamil political prisoners, was held today in Koppay.

After religious rites at Senthuran's home, his body was laid at the private tuition centre where he had studied, allowing hundreds of attendees to pay their respects.

On November 25th the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) Canada, in partnership with the Tamil Students' Associations (TSAs) from several universities, held a “Commencement of Tamil Eelam Remembrance week” event in Scarborough to mark Maaveerar Naal.

Dances and songs were performed, speeches and poems were read out and flowers were laid in tribute to the thousands who have died in the Tamil struggle.
Throughout November, several of the Canadian Tamil Students' Associations also held campus-based events marking Maaveerar Naal.

See more photos of the various campus events below.

Photographs: Tamil Guardian

Students at Jaffna University marked Maaveerar Naal this evening, by lighting a commemorative flame.

The flame was lit at 18:05 local time, the moment when the first LTTE cadre Lt Shankar, died in the struggle on November 27th, 1982.

Candles lit at 18:05 at Jaffna University today.

On November 25th the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) Canada, in partnership with the Tamil Students' Associations (TSAs) from several universities, held a “Commencement of Tamil Eelam Remembrance week” event in Scarborough to mark Maaveerar Naal.

Thousands of British Tamils have gathered in London to commemorate Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil day of remembrance.

Taking place at the Wembley Arena in London, thousands of Tamils queued for hours to pay respects and lay flowers before photos of those who gave their lives in the Tamil struggle for liberation.

With queues stretching outside the arena for hours, thousands staged their own service outside the venue, as people continued to join. With the venue at capacity, thousands stood in silence and bowed their heads, whilst some held the gloriosa lily aloft, in remembrance of those who have passed.

Photographs: Tamil Guardian

In a ceremony at the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kathchi (ITAK) offices in Martin Road, Jaffna, TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah led commemorations, as party members gathered to remember lives lost in the Tamil struggle.  With the party offices decorated in red and yellow, the Tamil national colours, members lit deepams and held a moment of silence.

At 18:05 local time, Mr Senathirajah light a flame of remembrance, marking the exact time the first LTTE cadre Lt Shankar died in November 1982.