Sri Lankan police attempt to ban Maaveerar Naal commemorations

by Thusiyan
Nov 19, 2023

Thousands of Tamils gathered at Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam in Kilinochchi last year.

Sri Lankan police in Jaffna have filed petitions in courts, attempting to ban Maaveerar Naal commemorations due to take place next week.

Police based in Manipay, Jaffna filed a petition at the district court in Mallakam, Jaffna claiming that the date on which Eelam Tamils around the world honour those who died in the liberation struggle, was glorifying terrorism.

Several lawyers including V. Manivannan appeared on behalf of the respondents to challenge the police petition, noting that Maaveerar Naal commemorations had been legally held across the North-East in previous years.

The Sri Lankan police attempt comes alongside a similar petition filed at the Magistrate Courts in Valvettithurai, Jaffna.

Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day - remembers those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle, and is marked on November 27, in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre, Lt Col. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982.

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