Maaveerar Naal began as an **LTTE-organised memorial** in 1989 and developed into a more elaborate annual observance. – **Early years:** Ceremonies were held at local burial grounds, with families and supporters paying tribute to fallen LTTE members. – **Expansion:** The LTTE established *thuyilum illam* (resting places) and held coordinated events across areas under its control. […]

Shankar’s death on **November 27, 1982** gave the date its symbolic meaning: the LTTE later chose it as **Maaveerar Naal**, an annual day to remember its fallen members. The commemoration began in 1989 and grew into a broader ritual of remembrance, including lighting lamps and observing moments of silence. It is associated specifically with the […]

For many Tamils, **November 27 is Maaveerar Naal**, a day of remembrance for those who died in the Tamil Eelam struggle. The date was selected because the LTTE’s first cadre, Shankar, reportedly died on November 27, 1982. It carries deep significance for Tamil nationalist memory, though its association with the LTTE makes public observances politically […]

November 27 is **Maaveerar Naal (Great Heroes’ Day)**, a remembrance day observed by many Tamils, particularly in the Tamil diaspora and parts of Sri Lanka, to honour those who died in the Tamil Eelam struggle. It was chosen because the LTTE said its first fighter, Shankar, died on that date in 1982. The day is […]

Self-censorship can weaken democracy by keeping voters from learning about important issues, abuses of power, and policy failures. With less critical reporting, public debate becomes narrower, citizens have less information for informed decisions, and officials and institutions face less scrutiny. Over time, this can reduce public trust and make it harder to demand accountability or […]

Self-censorship narrows public debate because journalists may avoid sensitive topics, challenge fewer powerful voices, or leave important perspectives out of coverage. This can keep corruption, abuses, and policy failures from public scrutiny, leaving people with less information to make decisions and hold leaders accountable. Over time, debate becomes less informed and diverse, and powerful interests […]

The **Tamil diaspora** is the global community of people of Tamil origin living outside their ancestral homelands, especially Tamil Nadu in India and Sri Lanka. Large communities are found in Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, the UK, France, and Australia. Some migrated for work or trade; others left Sri Lanka during the civil war.

Tamil migration happened in several waves, driven by different circumstances: – **Colonial-era labor migration:** Under British rule, many Tamils from India were recruited or coerced to work on plantations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Malaya, Singapore, and elsewhere. – **Trade and employment:** Tamils moved across the Indian Ocean for commerce, public-service jobs, and later professional […]

Here are a few well-known historical examples: – **Sri Lanka — Lasantha Wickrematunge (2009):** The editor of *The Sunday Leader* was assassinated after publishing critical reporting. His killing became a symbol of the dangers faced by journalists in Sri Lanka. – **South Africa — apartheid-era censorship:** The government restricted reporting, banned publications, and detained journalists […]