SLA obliterates Tiger Heroes' Cemeteries, erects military bases

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which has been systematically razing to the ground without any traces the Thamizh Eezham Heroes War Cemeteries (Thamizh Eezha Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam) in several places of North and East, has in recent weeks obliterated the Thuyilum Illam at Kodikaaman in Thenmaraadchi, Jaffna, and is erecting a big SLA base in its place. Ellangku’lam Heroes Cemetery in Udupiddi in Vadamaraadchi had been already destroyed without any trace and the premises converted into an SLA base. The obliterated Thuyilum Illam is now enclosed by barbed wire fence and hidden by coconut cadjans where a large number of SLA soldiers are hurriedly constructing a base. Tamil circles view the systematic destruction of Tamil war heroes' cemeteries and the symbols of the Tamil struggle in north and East as part of a large-scale genocide programme on Tamils by the Sri Lankan state. 

All the Heroes Cemeteries maintained by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Vanni had been completely razed to the ground and all the graves, memorial plaques and the dais where the Common Flame is lit on Heroes Day have been totally destroyed.

Bulldozed grounds of LTTE War Hereoes Cemetery in Visuvamadu, destroyed by the SLA.

The SLA is very particular in erecting its bases on the grounds where Tamil Hereos cemeteries had stood so that nothing remains to remind the fighters who had sacrificed their lives for the cause.

LTTE war heroes' memorials in Jaffna peninsula at Koappaay were bulldozed by the Sri Lanka Army in 1995. The other cemeteries destroyed in Jaffna were: Chaaddi in Veala'nai (1995), Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi (1996) and Ellangku'lam in Vadamaraadchi (1996). These war cemeteries were re-built following the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.

The war heroes cemeteries located at Kagnchikudichcha'ru in Ampaa'rai district, Thaa'ndiyadi, Tharavai, Ka'ndaladi and Maavadi Munmaari in Batticaloa district and Aalangku'lam, Iththikku'lam, Verukal, Uppaa'ru and Paalampoaddaa'ru Trincomalee district were destroyed after the SLA occupied LTTE held areas in the East in 2006 and 2007.

In Vanni, there were at least ten War Heroes Cemeteries. The cemeteries were located in Aa'ndaangku’lam and Pa’ndivirichchaan in Mannaar, Kanakapuram and Muzhangkaavil in Ki’linochchi district, Uduththu’rai in Vadamaraadchi East of Jaffna district, Eachchangku’lam in Vavuniyaa and four at Vanni-vizhaangku’lam, Visuvamadu, A’lampil, and Mu’l’liyava’lai of Mullaiththeevu district.

During the last battles of Eezham War IV, when genocidal attacks were launched from all fronts by the Sri Lankan military, the Tiger fighters killed in the war were buried at Ira’naippaalai and at Iraddaivaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu.

The Sri Lanka Army bulldozed the Heroes Cemetery at Visuvamadu between March and April 2009. The SLA captured Tamil civilians of Vanni, who were made to pass through Visuvamadu on 21st of April 2009, before reaching internment camps in Vavuniyaa, had witnessed the complete destruction of the largest Maaveerar Thuyilum illam in Visuvamadu, where more than 4,000 war dead Tamil fighters had been buried by the Tigers. 

My best in next 10 years: Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan on Friday said his best innings in films would come over the next 10 years. "I am proud of my film industry", he said and added: "I'll keep doing films, as I know nothing else".

The 'Ulaga Nayagan' was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day retrospective of his films, organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi, to mark his 50 years in Indian cinema.

"I am not going to dwell on what has been done, but rather focus on what is to be done," the actor said at the function attended by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

"This journey seems very short because I felt I had lot of time. I think I've been very lucky with my teachers or gurus. Literally, they've been my gurus; it's not about working under somebody hence calling him guru instead of your boss. They were gurus," he said.

In her address, Ambika Soni said, "Kamal Haasan as an artist over a period of time, balanced cinema with realism. His portrayal of different characters, created a pan India phenomenon, breaking the barriers of age groups, language and commercial interest.

Some of the character portrayals left a deep imprint across all generations. His multilingual cinematic versatility ensured a fan following reiterating his mass appeal and acceptance of his cinema as a unique artistic expression."

Acknowledging the contribution of Kamal Haasan to cinema, the Minister said each of the films being screened during the festival had a strong social message.

Films such as, 'Anbe Sivam, Virumaandi, Thevar Magan, Sagara Sangamam, Dasavatharam' and 'Nayagan' would be screened during the three day festival. Garmin nüvi 285W/285WT & nüMaps Lifetime Map Update Collection