Cyclone Fengal swept the Tamil homeland today, leaving tens of thousands of families displaced as floods slammed homes across the island.

Floods left roads across the North-East completely closed off, with tens of thousands of people due to travel to the site of former cemeteries to mark Maaveerar Naal today. Whilst many braved the weather, several also chose to stay at home and hold private commemorations instead.

Thousands of Eelam Tamils across the Batticaloa district braved floods, with some even travelling by boat, to attend public Maaveerar Naal commemorations at the sites of destroyed LTTE cemeteries earlier today.

Several hundred people gathered at the Vakarai Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam to light lamps and lay flowers before the collected remnants of tombstones they had collected.

Thousands of British Tamils from across the country came together to commemorate Maaveerar Naal, honouring the sacrifices of their fallen heroes through moving tributes, cultural performances, and remembrance ceremonies held in cities including London and Oxford. 

In London, Tamils united in large numbers at the ExCel centre to remember the Tamil fighters, and commemorate Maaveerar Naal. Families of fallen LTTE fighters gathered by makeshift gravestones to remember their loved ones who gave their lives to the liberation struggle.

Tamils across the North-East gathered at the site of destroyed cemeteries and held private commemorations at homes to mark Maaveerar Naal, paying tribute to Tamil freedom fighters even as a cyclone tore through the island.

Tamils gathered and commemorated Maaveerar Naal across the district of Mullaitivu, including demonstrations at Thevipuram Thuyilum Illam in Visuvamadu, paying respects to the tens of thousands of fallen Tamils who fought for self-determination. 

Maaveerar Naal commemorations took place in Amparai's Kanchikudiyaaru Thuyilum Illam, which locals had cleared despite torrential rains.

Hundreds of Tamils in Trincomalee marked Maaveerar Naal at the site of a destroyed LTTE cemetery in Aalankulam, Sampur.

Maaveerar Naal was commemorated across Jaffna today in spite of heavy flooding and rainfall in the district. 

Thousands of Tamils have gathered at the Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illum, Kilinochchi, the site of a destroyed LTTE cemetery, to pay tribute to fallen Tamil fighters.