Batticaloa observed Heroes Day, defying SL military orders

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 November 2011, 06:19 GMT]
The public expression in Batticaloa has come out stronger than any other areas of Tamil homeland. A special feature this year, unlike the last two years, was that the people of Batticaloa marked the birthday of the LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan with cakes and sweets on Saturday and on the following day staged public events where people gathered to pay homage to Tamil Heroes. Officers of the occupying SL military went in person to instruct the priests and management committee members of the Hindu temples in the district not to conduct poojas on 27 November, Sunday. Yet, torches were lit and bells were tolled in many temples in the rural areas, where families observed the day with lighting traditional lamps in remembrance of their loved ones who had sacrificed their lives in the war against the Sri Lankan state.

Meanwhile, a large number of SL Army and Speical Task Force personnel were deployed in Batticaloa city and suburbs, following information that pamphlets had been distributed in remembrance of the Heroes at some localities of Batticaloa city.

According to TNA MP C.Yogeswaran, the SL Police cancelled all public events that were to be attended by Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarians.

A book release event scheduled for Sunday at Chinthaama'ni Pi'l'laiyaar temple, located 1 km north of Batticaloa city, was put off by another day due to the warning of the police, said the parliamentarian.

Likewise, the release of a magazine Kathiravan (meaning Sun), which was to be held at Aaraiyampathi, 10 km south of Batticaloa city, was also cancelled at the last minute.