Thousands of people gathered at the Kanakapuram Great Heroes' Memorial Grounds (Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam) this evening in Kilinochchi. Despite the pouring rain, people lined up in the thousands, to pay their respects to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Tamil homeland.
It is worth noting that for the first time since the end of the war, this year's Great Heroes' Memorial Events have been held in a very solemn manner, not only in Kilinochchi but also in the Heroes' Memorial grounds throughout the Tamil homeland.
It is reported that Sri Lanka's new President and Minister of Defense, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, had ordered the security forces to reduce military police movements so that people can observe Great Heroes' Day events without any hindrance.
Batticaloa Maavadi MunMaari Memorial Ground observances:
Political observers have commenting on todays events opined; "If the National People's Power government, in a similar way, respects the feelings of the Eelam Tamils and carries out such goodwill efforts genuinely, a path to a permanent solution to Sri Lanka's Tamil national problem will be paved, and if the Sinhalese people are given the opportunity to participate in such memorialization events of the Tamils, there will be opportunities for harmony and understanding between the two communities of Sri Lanka and a political solution that can fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils will be reached."
A video recording of the Great Heroes' Day events held at the Kanakapuram Heroes' Grounds can be viewed below.
Video Ownership and Credits: G.L. Tharsan