Thileepan commemoration events begin in the North with a new bronze statue in Nallur and tributes involving Jaffna Municipal Council members.
The Thileepan commemoration marking the 39th death anniversary of Rasaiyah Parthipan, known as Thileepan, began in Sri Lanka’s North with the installation of a new bronze statue.
Thileepan was a member of the LTTE and is commemorated by supporters as “Thiyagi Thileepan” for his fatal fast connected to demands concerning Tamil political issues.
Provincial correspondents reported that commemorative events began on Tuesday, September 15, with floral tributes and significant public participation.
Organizers installed the new bronze statue at the site near the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil where a previous Thileepan memorial had stood. Government security forces demolished that memorial in 2010, according to the report.
Thileepan Commemoration Opens in Nallur
The ceremony included the participation of Parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, leader of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF).
Former LTTE fighter Muthukumar Manoharan inaugurated the event at 9.45 am by lighting a lamp. The timing recalled the hour at which Thileepan began his fast.
Meanwhile, members of the Jaffna Municipal Council also held a commemoration before the start of Tuesday’s council session.
Provincial correspondents said members placed a photograph of Thileepan inside the council chamber and offered floral tributes.
Urban councillors representing the National People’s Power also participated in the observance.
Jaffna Mayoress Vivekanandarajah Madivadani lit the first lamp at the Municipal Council commemoration.
The participation of councillors from different political groups brought the remembrance into the municipal political arena alongside the public commemorations taking place elsewhere in the North.
Mullaitivu Event Recalls the 1987 Fast
The Commemoration Committee of the Theravil Mahaveeru Cemetery also arranged an event to commemorate Thileepan on Tuesday morning near the Theravil Mahaveeru Cemetery in Mullaitivu.
Thirty-nine years ago, Thileepan began his fast while campaigning against the Prevention of Terrorism Act and advancing several political demands.
The article notes that the Prevention of Terrorism Act has also been used in the recent past against activists in the South.
On September 15, 1987, Thileepan began his fast with several demands. These included removing Sinhalese military camps from Tamil provinces and temporarily suspending rehabilitation work until a temporary Tamil government was established in the Tamil people’s provinces.
His demands also included halting the settlement of Sinhalese people in villages and provinces belonging to Tamil people. He further called for an end to establishing Sinhalese police stations in Tamil provinces.
Another demand sought the immediate release of political detainees held at police security headquarters under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Thileepan continued his fast until his death on September 26, 1987, in front of the University of Jaffna.
The 39th Thileepan commemoration therefore recalls both his death and the political demands associated with his 1987 fast, with this year’s observances taking place in Nallur, at the Jaffna Municipal Council and near the Theravil Mahaveeru Cemetery.
