The day after Maaveerar Naal was commemorated across the Tamil North-East, stories on the remembrance events and the Sri Lankan police crackdown on them dominated the Tamil press on the island.
Eelanadu led with the headline “Thousands of Tamils gather in defiance of bans to pay tribute in scenes of great emotional outpouring on heroes' day”.
The lead photograph showed an aerial view of thousands marking Maaveerar Naal in Mullaitivu.
“Massive outpouring of emotions across the north and east yesterday as thousands partake in great heroes' events,” said Kaalakkathir.
The Kaalai Murasu headline story said “Oceans of people gather in great heroes' cemeteries - tears shimmer in the light from lamps”
“People flood great heroes resting homes like never before since the end of the war,” said Jaffna-based daily Uthayan.
“Those in graves worshipped with tears. Lamps glow throughout the homeland.”
Thinakkural’s headline said “great outpouring of emotions across the north and east despite grave threats”.
“Great heroes' resting homes dissolve in their tears,” it continued. “People come in waves to pay tributes.”
It went on to report on “Army, police and CID threats”.
“Maaveerar Naal, the day of our brave souls who never wavered from their goal,” read the headline of Thesiyam.
“Maaveerar Naal commemorated among outpouring of emotions,” said the top of the Virakeseri.
“Many thousands partake to pay tribute in the north and east.”
Whilst Tamil newspapers extensively covered the commemorations, there was little to no coverage in Sri Lankan media – in either Sinhala or English – on the Maaveerar Naal events and police attempts to shut it down.
