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Thousands of people participated
at the Great Heroes Day celebrations held at the Tharavai
‘Maveerar Thuyilum Illam’ (The martyr's cemetery where
Great Heroes rest) in the Batticaloa district, despite
heavy rains Thursday evening, and the Senior Commander of
the LTTE for the eastern flank, Col. V. Karuna, attended
the celebrations, sources said.
In memory of the Great Heroes, business
establishments in the Tamil regions of the Batticaloa
district shut down and government offices did not function
as there was only minimal attendance. Students did not
attend schools, the sources said.
As thousands of people and hundred of
vehicles reached the main event at Tharavai through Kiran,
traffic congestion could be seen in the village. For the
first time this year, parents of the martyrs also attended
the functions along with the general public.
In Kiran, Santhiveli and Vantharumoolai,
rest stops for the visitors from remote areas to rest and
take refreshments could be seen.
In Valaichenai, a public procession of
people in a boat-like vehicle carrying a large cutout of
the LTTE leader, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, reached the
Vakarai-Kanadalady Maveerar Thuyilum Illam. Behind that
vehicle were a large number of people in buses, vans,
trishaws and tractors, the sources said.
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