Tamil Eelam remembers Maalathy 37 years on

The 37th commemoration of the death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter to die in the ranks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was held across the North-East this week.

2nd Lt. Maalathy, died at the age of 20 on October 10, 1987, during a battle with the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in Jaffna. As the first female combatant of the LTTE to die in battle, her death marked a pivotal moment in the Tamil armed struggle, embedding her legacy deeply within the Tamil community.

Mannar

In Mannar, her family joined former LTTE members, and community members to pay their respects. A public flame was lit in her memory, followed by the laying of garlands and floral tributes at her memorial.

Kilinochchi

In Kilinochchi, an event was organized by the Dharmapuram regional branch of ITAK and saw the participation of several prominent figures and community members.

Tamil MP Sivajnanam Shritharan delivered a speech honoring Maalathy's legacy and the broader struggle for Tamil rights. During the ceremony, Shritharan distributed educational materials to 200 students from underprivileged families in the Kandavel region.

Also present at the event were Northern Provincial Council's former Minister of Education Thambirasa Kurukularaja and Pradeshiya Sabha member Sanmukharaja Jeevaraja. The ceremony drew attendees from the local community, including students, who paid their respects to Maalathy.

Jaffna
 

Another memorial was organised in Jaffna by the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF). Party leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam joined other activists and community members in commemorating Maalathy/