Santhosh Narayanan pays tribute to Lt Col Thileepan in Jaffna

by Sharmini
Sep 24, 2023

Tamil music composer Santhosh Narayanan paid tribue to Lt Col Thileepan at a memorial in Nallur, Jaffna today as the Tamil nation marks 36 years since his fast unto death. 

Narayanan and his wife, Meenakshi, are currently in Jaffna as the music composer will be performing at his concert 'Yaazh Gaanam' on October 21st. 

Events commemorating Thileepan are taking place across the North-East to remember his sacrifice. 

Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE fasted to death on hunger strike, appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.

Thileepan began his fast on the 15th of September 1987, with 100,000 people gathered around the historic Nallur Kandwaswamy Temple in Jaffna. He passed away 11 days later after refusing food and water. 

The five demands were:

  1. All Tamils detained under the Prevention of Terrosim Act should be released. 
  2. The colonisation by Sinhalese in Tamil areas under the guise of rehabilitation should be stopped. 
  3. All such rehabilitation should be stopped until an interim government is formed. 
  4. The Sri Lankan government should stop opening police stations and camps in the Northeastern province. 
  5. The Sri Lankan army and police should withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army. 

 

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