Maveerar Day celebrations for the first time in Batticaloa town

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 November 2002, 16:12 GMT]
The ‘Maveerar Naal’ (Heroes Day) will be observed in Batticaloa town for the first time this year. The Mahajana College, where the LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan had his primary education (1960-63), has been chosen as the venue for the observance, LTTE sources said.

A large Maveerar memorial is being constructed at the college with the help of the public in Batticaloa. The memorial will have the facility to display photos of about 4000 LTTE members killed in the war. In addition, the college campus and the Arasady road are being decorated with 25,000 electric bulbs. Traffic through the Kalmunai-Batticaloa road has been temporarily diverted through the Station road.

On the morning of November 25, at 8 am, the memorial will be declared open by Mr. Senathi, the head of the political wing for Puliyantheevu-Kotam. The Tamil Eelam national flag will be raised. Many senior commanders of the LTTE will participate in this function.

The public can pay their respects to the ‘Maveerar’ at the memorial from 8 am November 25 to November 28 morning. The organizers said that those paying their respects could do so with flowers and garlands.

In a handbill distributed to the public, the LTTE’s political office in Puliyantheevu-section said that the martyrs fought to safeguard the dignity of the Tamil people and sacrificed their lives for the people. “The Maveerar day celebrates the purity of their sacrifice and their bravery. This day should be celebrated with awareness and depth of feeling. During the period of the celebrations, the public can help by making decorations in red and yellow in front of their homes, businesses and schools.”

On the morning of November 27, at 6:05 pm Tamil Eelam time (Sri Lankan time 6:35 am) eternal flames will be lit at the memorial. The public has been asked to light flames for the Maveerar in their homes, businesses and temples. Other Maveerar memorials are located in Tharavai, Thandiyadi, Kandaladi, Amparai, Mavadimunmari, Andankulam, and the publicin these areas have been asked to go with their families to pay their respects to the martyrs.