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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 12, 2020

From 1989 onwards, the LTTE commenced paying organized public tribute to its
fallen combatants through memorials and ceremonies. When on November 27,

1989, the LTTE's late leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran announced a national day of
collective commemoration for Tamil War heroes which is commonly known as

"Mahaveer Naal" (Heroes' Day). Apart from naming Mahaviru Day, in Vishvamadu
area, there is a cemetery built to commemorate 4000 resistant fighters. Later, this

was bulldozed by the government. Not only LTTE memorials but also Tamil

community war memorials were demolished in the post-war era of the country
erased the name of national security. Despite resistance to separatism and desire to

resolve the conflict, the government had dismally failed to realize the genuine
human bond of a group which continues to remember their members with a sense of

spirituality.

The ethnic rivalry between the majoritarian government and the minorities that

expressed desire to their cultural autonomy continues despite the cessation of the
war hostilities between the two communities have entwined in the conflict.

End of the War and Unmet Dawn of Peace

Even though the war ended eleven years ago, and people are still waiting for the

dawn of sustainable peace to Sri Lanka. To achieve sustainable peace, it is crucial to
conceive reconciliation and peace differently. In this process the reconciliation of

memory is very important. LTTE Community-led memory initiatives that do not

have a state sanction can, and indeed has taken more liberal and creative forms over
the years. Memory initiatives can assist all communities. The special memories of a

community are very important which directly affects to initiate the reconciliation

process.

The symbolic nature of war monuments and victory celebrations represent only the
heroism of the war. The war memorialization discloses a fraction of a dominant

system. Symbolically speaking, through the paradigm of war memorials, the state

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