Commemorative events held in N&E remembering war dead

Several commemorative events were held across Northern and Eastern provinces today remembering those who died during the final phases of the war that came to an end on this day, fourteen years ago. 

The initiative, organized by civil society organizations in the two provinces saw hundreds of people gathered at Mullivaikaal, Mullaithivu where the final phases of the war were fought to remember their loved ones who died in the war. 

Relatives of those who died and those who were forced to disappear after being handed over to authorities during the final war arrived with photographs of their loved ones at Mullivaikaal. Religious leaders led the event with collective prayers.

Similar events were organized in other parts of the provinces as well. Political parties, youth groups and civil society outfits staged similar events to mark the day in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, Mannar, Batticaloa, and Ampara. 

Meanwhile, a similar event organized by a group of Colombo-based civil society activists near Borella cemetery was met with a protest by a group of protesters who claimed that the event was to commemorate ‘terrorists’.

War hero commemorative events to remember the solders were held at at the Sinha Regiment camps in Nuwara eliya and Kandy In the south too war hero celebration were held at Galle town.

There were also flower garlands and offerings made venerating deceased war heroes at Habarana war hero statue. The Galaha Temple at Kandy too had a war hero celebration event with the participation of children.    

(Pix by N. Lohathayalan)