The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership.
Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name HipHop Sangee, was produced before court after being arrested by officers attached to the Jaffna District Crime Prevention Division under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Sri Lankan authorities allege that a video shared on social media, featuring a dubbed revolutionary Tamil poem, amounted to an attempt to promote or revive the LTTE.
Appearing on behalf of the artist, attorney-at-law Sajanthan rejected that characterisation and argued that the poem in question contained no reference to the LTTE, its symbols, its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran or any proscribed organisation.
The defence further submitted that revolutionary and heroic themes have long been embedded within Tamil literary and cultural traditions and cannot automatically be interpreted as support for a banned organisation.
In court, Sajanthan cited classical Tamil literary works including Akananuru and Purananuru, as well as the writings of Bharathidasan, arguing that themes of resistance, heroism and collective identity have been present in Tamil literature for centuries.
The lawyer also challenged the prosecution's attempts to link references to animals such as lions and tigers to the LTTE.
According to the defence, neither phraseology nor symbolism alone could be treated as evidence of support for a banned movement.
Sajanthan further noted that political parties containing the words "Tamil Eelam" and "Viduthalai Pulikal" had previously been registered with Sri Lanka's Election Commission, undermining claims that the mere use of such terms constituted a criminal offence.
The defence also questioned the evidentiary basis of the case, arguing that the video material presented by police was insufficient to justify detention under the PTA.
Attention was additionally drawn to legal precedents concerning arrests and remand orders under anti-terror legislation.
Despite submissions seeking his release, the court ordered that Sangeethsan remain in remand custody until 17 June whilst investigations continue.
The case has generated growing concern across the Tamil homeland and diaspora, with critics arguing that the arrest reflects a broader pattern of criminalising Tamil artistic and cultural expression.
Sangeethsan was arrested after authorities alleged that videos uploaded to social media following a musical event in Navatkuli, Chavakachcheri, had been edited in a manner that promoted the LTTE.
His detention has since prompted calls for his release from politicians, lawyers, artists and civil society organisations.
On Thursday, President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran announced that a fundamental rights petition would be filed before Sri Lanka's Supreme Court seeking the artist's release, arguing that the allegations against him do not fall within the scope of the PTA.
The arrest also comes amid increasing scrutiny of Tamil cultural events in the North-East. In recent weeks, occupying Sri Lankan police have intervened in musical performances, questioned artists and launched investigations into songs associated with Tamil homeland identity and memories of the armed conflict.
Human rights advocates have long criticised the PTA for granting sweeping powers of arrest and detention and for being used disproportionately against Tamils.