Nadesan funeral put off to Thursday

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 17:06 GMT]
The cremation of the body of assassinated Tamil journalist, Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan, is to be held Thursday evening at the Alankattai cemetery in Vathiri, in the Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district. The body will be kept in his home in Vathiri from Thursday morning and will be removed later in the day to Nelliayadi Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam where funeral orations will be delivered by leading media personnel, academics, politicians and LTTE leaders.

Mr.M.Ilampraiyan, Jaffna university lecturer and the chairman funeral organizing committee, took charge of the casket from the LTTE's deputy political head, Mr.S.Thangan, Wednesday around 2.30 p.m. in the no-man zone in the Muhamalai area. Thamileelam Police provided security to the hearse till it reached the Muhamalai army checkpoint.

Jaffna LTTE political head Mr.C.Ilamparuthi garlanded the remains of Nadesan. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna district parliamentarians Mr.M.K.Eelaventhan, Mr.C.Gajendran and Ms. Pathmini Sithamparanathan came on foot in front of the hearse with wreaths while school bands were in attendance, sources said

TNA parliamentarians Messrs N.Raviraj, Suresh Premachchandran and S.Sivanesan joined the funeral procession at the Muhamalai checkpoint. At Kodikamam, a meeting was held and large number of people paid their last respects to the remains of Mr.Nadesan. Mr.Ilampraiyan presided. Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor C.Mohanadas paid his last respects, sources said.

The hearse was taken to Jaffna town through Kaithady, Ariyalai, Parameswara junction, and Thirunelvaely junction, Urumpirai, Kopay and Achchuveli. Later the remains were handed over to Nadesan's family members, sources said.