Memorial decorations for Maaveerar Naal at the Vavuniya Eechchankulam Thuyilum Illam set up last evening have been completely destroyed by military personnel overnight, with last-minute preparations currently underway to repair the damage.

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader Gajen Ponnambalam tweeted that the military was suspected to be behind the vandalism that “completely destroyed” preparations that had taken place.

Students at the Eastern University commemorated Maaveerar Naal on campus today.

The event was held at the university's Vantharumoolai campus in Batticaloa.

Tamils across Eelam and around the world marked Maaveerar Naal this year, remembering all those that gave their lives to the Tamil liberation struggle.

Authorities at the University of Jaffna have cancelled events scheduled for the rest of the day, after students broke through the gates and defied a ban on Maaveerar Naal remembrance events this morning.

An internal circular sent to staff at the university said that a working session scheduled for this afternoon ad to be cancelled due to the “prevailing situation”.

Maaveerar Naal commemorations began in Jaffna this morning with locals gathering in front of a destroyed monument to Lt Col Thileepan, to pay tribute to those that died in the Tamil liberation struggle.

Flowers were laid before a portrait of Thileepan and sacrificial flame lit.

The Sri Lankan security forces reportedly destroyed preparations that were taking place at a Mannar Thuyilum Illam this week, as Tamils around the world marked Maaveerar Naal this week.

Tamils in Mannar been undergoing preparations at the site of the LTTE cemetery in Pandivirichchaan which was bulldozed after the Sri Lankan government took control of the area in 2008.

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka is to meet with Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, over the alleged abduction of an embassy employee, according to diplomatic sources in Colombo. 

Hundreds of Tamil students broke through the gates of Jaffna University to commemorate Maaveerar Naal this morning, defying a ban on entering the campus enacted by authorities yesterday.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka,  Sarah Hulton OBE and the Deputy Commissioner Tom Burn yesterday met Gotabaya Rajapaksa despite concerns over his human rights record.

Rajapaksa tweeted that the visit was to “convey good wishes on behalf of the British Government” for his election victory. 

Several Kollywood celebrities sent birthday messages to mark the 65th birthday of the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran today. Birthday wishes were sent on social media accounts from the likes of Indian actors Sibiraj Sathyaraj, G.V Prakash and film composer D.Imman.