Police have extended the remand period of three arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with the observation of the ‘Maaveerar Naal’ or ‘Hero’s Day’.
While one person was released the remand of the other three was extended.
Also, a senior Tamil politician and former MP has been subjected to an inquiry by the police with regard to the birthday celebration of Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was killed by the security forces 15 years back.
Prior to coming to power, the NPP under Anura Kumara Dissanayaka strongly criticized the hugely condemned PTA. However, immediately after coming to power a Tamil from Jaffna was arrested by the new regime and continues to be in remand.
Father of two, Manoharan Kajendraroopan, from the village of Inuvil West in Chunnakkam was arrested by the police on Thursday (29) for what they allege for posting a video of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on his social media Facebook wall.
Meanwhile, senior Tamil politician and leader of the Tamil National Party (TNA) and former MP from Jaffna, M.K.Sivajilingam has been summoned by the Velvetithurai Police for recording a statement.
After he expressed his inability to come to the Police Station due to his ill health, Police officers from the Velvetithurai Police Station went to his house and inquired him for an hour.
Sivajilingam told the police, he made arrangements for the birthday celebration of Velupillai Prabhakaran as he is considered the leader of the Tamil Eelam.
“They raised a question if I organized the birthday celebration because he was my relative. I replied back, I value him as the national leader of Tamil Eelam more than a relative and said hence it was organized on a grand scale.
Police asked back why I was doing so. Immediately I shot back saying because he was the national leader of Tamil Eelam, the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe signed a peace agreement with him”.
Police swooped the place where Sivajilingam celebrated the 70th birthday of Velupillai Prabhakaran on the 26th of November and suggested they could celebrate the event without the photograph of the LTTE leader. He says the police inquired about this also.
“Police demanded the removal of pictures of Prabhakaran. I told them the birthday event happened only after it was removed”.
The former MP told local journalists he is prepared to face whatever action the government plans to execute.
“Those who said ‘Maaveerar Day’ could be observed are now scared seeing a photograph. Where is this going? Will you believe it if it is said people fear seeing Rohana Wijeweera’s photo? Is there one law for you and another law for us? Scenarios don’t change even after regime change”.
Local journalists say around 10 youths who joined former MP M.K.Sivajilingam in the birthday celebration of the late leader of the LTTE were also summoned by the Velvetithurai Police to record statements.
Meanwhile, Manoharan Kajendraroopan who was arrested on the 30th of November for posting a video of the LTTE leader on his Facebook wall and produced before the Jaffna Magistrate has been remanded till the 4th of December.
Separately the remand of political and social activist Kelum Jeyasumana was also extended till the 4th of December, when he was produced before the Fort Magistrate in Colombo after being arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on suspicion of indulging in the propaganda of the LTTE ‘Maaveerar Day’ events.
Similarly, 45-year-old Kelum Harshana from Modera who was arrested under suspicion of similar charges was released on bail by Fort Magistrate Dilina Gamage.
However, the remand of another suspect Janith Chaturanga was extended till the 17th of November. He was arrested in Baddegama on the 30th of November and initially remanded till the 3rd by the local Magistrate.
