|
|
 |
| Sunday, 9 June 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | Today's Top Story |  |
| News Business Features
|
TULF's leader's final rites today by P. Krishnasamy The remains of the doyen of Tamil politics, Murugesu Sivasithmparam, will be cremated according to Hindu rites at his birth place Karaveddy at noon today. Black and white flags and buntings are displayed throughout the Northern peninsula as a mark of mourning. Shops remained closed from yesterday while mournful songs were on the air along the streets of Jaffna. Thousands of people of his constituency are filing past his remains to pay their last respects, according to reports from Jaffna. Ministers Karu Jayasuriya, Jayalath Jayawardene and T. Maheswaran and A. H. M. Azwer are expected to represent the Government at the funeral. SLMC leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem and CWC national organiser R. Yogarajan M.P. will represent their respective political parties. The coffin containing the body of the veteran Tamil Parliamentarian was received by LTTE top rungers and people of the area who lined up on both sides of the A9 highway wearing black bands at Kilinochchi last Friday. White flags and buntings were displayed along the streets. Shops and schools remained closed. LTTE political leader S. P. Thamil Chelvan lit the traditional oil lamp 'Eegai Chudar', garlanded the body and paid his tributes. Followed by him LTTE cadres and the civilian public filed past the coffin of the TULF leader "Udupiddy Singham" or Lion of Udupiddy, as he was known in his stronghold. 'Tamil Eelam' flags had been displayed half mast. In his funeral speech, Mr. Thamil Chelvan paid a glowing tribute. "Tamil people can win their aspirations only through unity and he was a living example of that approach", Thamil Chelvan remarked. The LTTE political wing also issued a communique of bereavement remarking in it that he relentlessly spoke up against injustices on the Tamil people. Ven. Siyambalgaswewa Wimalasara Thera, the chief priest of the North and East also paid his last respects. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
