Sri Lankan police summon local council chairmen for attending protest

 

24 March 2022

Valikamam East Pradeshiya Sabha chairperson Thiyagaraja Nirosh and Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha deputy chairperson Selvaratnam Mayuran have been summoned to Chavakachcheri police station today for questioning for joining Tamil families of the disappeared at a rally opposing the Prime Minister's visit. 

On Sunday, Tamil families of the disappeared were stopped by Sri Lankan police officers as they travelled to an Economic Centre in Mattuvil which was to be opened by Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa. After hearing reports that the relatives were being blocked from travelling further, Nirosh and Mayuran went to the site where Sri Lankan officers were pushing the protesters back in to their bus to prevent them from holding their demonstration. 

Mariyasuresh Eswari, the co-ordinator of the Mullaitivu Disappeared Relatives' Association, was one of the protesters travelling to Mattuvil. She was admitted to hospital with injuries this week after she reported being dragged away by Sri Lankan police and trampled on. After being forced to return back to Mullaitivu, she lost consciousness and began vomiting. 

Sri Lanka's security forces have ramped up their efforts to suppress civic space in the North-East. Tamils are routinely summoned and placed under surveillance for engaging in protests and Tamil memorialisation activities across the region.