Tamils urged to attend Remembrance Day functions

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Council of Tamil Civil Society Organisations has made an open request that Tamils should attend remembrance day functions in their respective areas without keeping away, hold poojas in all Hindu temples for the souls of their departed loved ones. It also requested that school children pay floral tributes and light lamps first thing in the morning in the schools and government departments and offices in the North and East get the permission of their respective Provincial Council administrations to hold remembrance in a similar manner, according to reports.

The council has also requested erection of memorial pillars wherever possible. The association of all faculties of the Jaffna university has also appealed to all to join their 'remembrance day' event on May 18 at the campus. Similar requests have been made by TNA stalwart Mavai Senadhirajah and others while sections of the diaspora community have stated that they would have a week's observance in cities the world over including Chennai, to bring to the notice of the world community the 'genocide of the Tamils'.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan told the Sunday Observer that these are memorial events for their dear and near ones whom they had lost in the final days of the war and they get together to pray for their souls.

TNA members of the Northern PC M. K. Sivajilingam, Ananthi Saseetharan and Ravikaran already held a 'Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day' event at Devendramunai in Vadamaratchchi lighting lamps and paying floral tributes. Reports said that similar events would be held in important towns in the North and East.

Meanwhile, one week is dedicated to the remembrance from May 12 - 18 and events are to be held virtually in all places of the Northern province and some places in the Eastern province, according to reports.