The Tamil nation honors its fallen and reaffirms its unbroken struggle Washington D.C.; November 27, 2025 — Today, Eelam Tamils across the Tamil homeland in the North-East of Sri Lanka and the global diaspora come together to observe Maaveerar Naal (Great Heroes’ Day). This day marks the death of Lt. Shankar, the first Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L TTE) cadre to fall in battle, and commemorates those who sacrificed their lives for liberation from Sinhala-Buddhist state oppression. Despite decades of state harassment, intimidation, and legal attempts to ban public commemorations, Tamils continue to gather in collective memory and aspiration. The unchecked force of Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism—the ideology that enabled systematic oppression of Tamils on the island—resulted in the Tamil struggle and eventually led to the Tamil genocide. At the core of Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism is the denial of Tamil nationhood, which fundamentally shapes the lived experience of Tamils. The current NPP/JVP government, like the ones before it, continues to enable these conditions and uphold a deep-rooted culture of impunity, with not a single Sri Lankan perpetrator held accountable for the Tamil genocide or for the countless Tamils killed, disappeared, or tortured by the state. The government has shown itself to be committed and competent in pursuing underworld criminals, but has treated Tamil demands for accountability with contempt and disdain. Militarization persists across the North-East, and land where L TTE cemeteries once stood remains under army occupation, restricting Tamil memorialization efforts. Meanwhile, the military runs farms, businesses, camps, and even tourist sites across the Tamil homeland. Sinhalization and Buddhisization continue openly, and rights activists and journalists who raise awareness on issues of justice, accountability or self-determination are heavily harassed and intimidated by security forces. The government downplays ongoing human rights abuses in the North-East and distorts the reality of the Tamil people. Its refusal to recognize the Tamil genocide or support meaningful justice shows that the significant issues that gave rise to the armed conflict remain unresolved. The sacrifices of those who fought for self-determination continue to resonate in the struggles of today, as Tamils in the homeland and the diaspora work tirelessly to reaffirm their nationhood and demand recognition of the atrocities committed against their people. The government’s ongoing denial of justice and human rights abuses on the island underscore that the struggle for liberation and accountability remains as urgent as ever, and the legacy of the Tamil liberation struggle continues to inspire action and advocacy across the diaspora and the homeland. Maaveerar Naal remains a potent symbol of Tamil nationhood and resistance, a bulwark against Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism. The struggle for Tamil self-determination, rooted in the aspirations of the people, transcends political parties and electoral cycles. Every year, as red and yellow flags rise across the Tamil homeland and the diaspora, the Eelam Tamil people honor their fallen and reaffirm their unwavering demand for justice, accountability, and the inalienable rights of the Eelam Tamil nation, including their right to self-determination.
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The Tamil nation honors its fallen and reaffirms its unbroken struggle
Washington D.C.; November 27, 2025 — Today, Eelam Tamils across the Tamil homeland in the
North-East of Sri Lanka and the global diaspora come together to observe Maaveerar Naal (Great Heroes’
Day). This day marks the death of Lt. Shankar, the first Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L TTE) cadre to
fall in battle, and commemorates those who sacrificed their lives for liberation from Sinhala-Buddhist
state oppression. Despite decades of state harassment, intimidation, and legal attempts to ban public
commemorations, Tamils continue to gather in collective memory and aspiration.
The unchecked force of Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism—the ideology that enabled systematic
oppression of Tamils on the island—resulted in the Tamil struggle and eventually led to the Tamil
genocide. At the core of Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism is the denial of Tamil nationhood, which
fundamentally shapes the lived experience of Tamils. The current NPP/JVP government, like the ones
before it, continues to enable these conditions and uphold a deep-rooted culture of impunity, with not a
single Sri Lankan perpetrator held accountable for the Tamil genocide or for the countless Tamils killed,
disappeared, or tortured by the state. The government has shown itself to be committed and competent
in pursuing underworld criminals, but has treated Tamil demands for accountability with contempt and
disdain. Militarization persists across the North-East, and land where L TTE cemeteries once stood
remains under army occupation, restricting Tamil memorialization efforts. Meanwhile, the military runs
farms, businesses, camps, and even tourist sites across the Tamil homeland.
Sinhalization and Buddhisization continue openly, and rights activists and journalists who raise
awareness on issues of justice, accountability or self-determination are heavily harassed and intimidated
by security forces. The government downplays ongoing human rights abuses in the North-East and
distorts the reality of the Tamil people. Its refusal to recognize the Tamil genocide or support meaningful
justice shows that the significant issues that gave rise to the armed conflict remain unresolved.
The sacrifices of those who fought for self-determination continue to resonate in the struggles of today,
as Tamils in the homeland and the diaspora work tirelessly to reaffirm their nationhood and demand
recognition of the atrocities committed against their people. The government’s ongoing denial of justice
and human rights abuses on the island underscore that the struggle for liberation and accountability
remains as urgent as ever, and the legacy of the Tamil liberation struggle continues to inspire action and
advocacy across the diaspora and the homeland.
Maaveerar Naal remains a potent symbol of Tamil nationhood and resistance, a bulwark against
Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism. The struggle for Tamil self-determination, rooted in the aspirations of
the people, transcends political parties and electoral cycles. Every year, as red and yellow flags rise
across the Tamil homeland and the diaspora, the Eelam Tamil people honor their fallen and reaffirm their
unwavering demand for justice, accountability, and the inalienable rights of the Eelam Tamil nation,
including their right to self-determination.
PEARL
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 5