Preparations were underway at Aatkattiveli Thuyilum Illam in Mannar yesterday ahead of Maaveerar Naal which falls on November 27. 

Before the cleaning began, the families paid tribute to the fallen Tamil fighters. Thommai, the brother of Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle, lit a flame by a makeshift gravestone. 

Tamils have called for Theravil Thuyilum Illam to be released by the Sri Lankan army who are currently occupying the land. 

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) built Thuyilum Illams - resting homes- across the North-East where thousands of Tamil fighters were laid to rest. Following the end of the armed conflict, the Sri Lankan army bulldozed over these cemetries and in some areas built army bases over them. 

Six Tamil students have been released on bail by Eravur Magistrate court after they were arrested earlier today for participating in a protest against the Sri Lankan government’s seizure of land and settling of Sinhalese farmers in Mayilathamadu.

Parliamentarians from the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) lent their support to the restoration of a cemetery ahead of the upcoming Maaveerar Naal (Heroes' Day) commemoration this month. 

Six Tamil artistes took to the Sydney Opera House steps to perform eight 25 minute live shows to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening and inauguration of the world famed art facility.

A Tamil-run bakery in Paris can claim the title of having the best Pain au Chocolat in all of the French capital, and the second best in the whole country, after a hard fought national competition last week.

Sugeetharan Sigamani narrowly missed out on first place and the ‘Master du Pain au Chocolat’ title, but can still boast of having the best chocolate filled pastry in Paris as he battled it out amongst dozens of professional bakers.

The Sri Lankan government announced that three retired military personnel, who are all accused of committing atrocities, have been appointed as international diplomats in a move that may be aimed at shielding them from prosecutions for war crimes.

Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne was appointed High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Damith Nishantha Sirisoma Ulugetenne was appointed High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Cuba and Sudarshan Karagoda Pathirana was appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal.

The US ambassador to Sri Lanka spoke of her government’s “enduring security partnership” and “joint training opportunities” with Colombo, after meeting with a former Sri Lankan commander who stands credibly accused of war crimes.

Julie Chung posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on her meeting with Kamal Gunaratne last week.

Students at the University of Jaffna paid tribute to former student union leader Sellathurai Purusothaman, who was killed 15 years ago along with another Tamil youth by the Sri Lankan Army.

Students at the University of Jaffna cleaned a memorial on the campus and lit flames this evening, as they began preparations for Maaveerar Naal, a day to commemorate those who gave their lives in the struggle for Tamil Eelam.

Maaveerar Naal is marked on November 27 in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre (LTTE), Lt. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982. The date is marked by Eelam Tamils across the island and around the world.