Thousands of Tamils defied the Sri Lanka security forces and gathered across the Tamil homeland, and around the world today, to mark Maaveerar Naal - Great Heroes Day - and remember those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for liberation. 

Commemorations took place despite a Sri Lankan crackdown this week, which intensified this morning. Riot police armed with shields and batons were sent to shut down a memorial event in Batticaloa, whilst in other parts of Eelam Tamils were blocked from commemorating their heroes.

British Tamils have hoisted Tamil Eelam flags outside their businesses in London ahead of Maaveerar Naal. 

Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day - is marked on November 27, in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre, Lt. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982. Tamils in the homeland and the diaspora will remember those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil struggle for freedom. 

See more photographs below: 

Today tens of thousands of Tamils, from all ages and backgrounds, will gather across the homeland to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives in the armed struggle. The lighting of candles and silent bowing of heads comes despite another year of repeated intimidation and harassment from the Sri Lankan state. Regardless, the nation continues to gather en masse to honour the men and women who fought for it. In paying tribute to the sacrifice of their heroes, the resilience of the nation and its unbowed resistance to destruction is reaffirmed. It cannot be broken.

A memorial to Lieutenant Shankar, the first fighter from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose his life in the armed struggle, was renovated and freshly unveiled this week, ahead of the anniversary of his death on Monday.

On 23rd November, the University of Nottingham’s Tamil Society held a memorial event to commemorate Maaveerar Naal.

Events were held in the UK, Canada, and other places across the Tamil diaspora this week to honour the families of cadres who gave their lives in the struggle for Tamil Eelam.

In the run-up to Maaveerar Naal on November 27, the families of fallen fighters are traditionally honoured.

Such events have already taken place in the Tamil homeland, despite the intimidation of the Sri Lankan security forces.

Tamil newspapers on the island carried articles on Sunday to mark the 69^th birthday of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“Leader Prabhakaran’s birthday today,” read the Uthayan front-page headline, above a photograph of the LTTE leader.

A blood donation drive was held at Abisha hospital in Mulliyawalai, Mullaitivu today to mark the sixth day of Maaveerar remembrance week. 

 
Drone footage shows preparations for the 36th Maaveerar Naal have been completed at Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam in Kilinochchi this evening. 

Kanagapuram, a short distance from Kilinochchi town was one of the largest Thuyilum Illams built and maintained by the LTTE in the North-East. It was bulldozed over by the Sri Lankan state following the end of the armed conflict.

Sri Lankan police have prohibited the use of the karthigai poo - the Tamil national flower - at Maaveerar Naal commemorations in Mullaitivu. 

Former Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran alongside other Maaveerar Naal organiseers were at Iraddai Vaikkal Thuyilum Illam when they were approached by Sri Lankan police officers.