Tensions around illegal sand mining in the North-East persist following controversal confrontations in villages such as Thottaveli in Mannar this month.
Tamils in Mannar and Jaffna took to the streets on Friday to protest the issue and condemned local authorities' and police failure to stop the perpetrators.
See also: Sri Lankan police protect sand miners and threaten protesting priest and villagers
(Photos: above - Jaffna; below - Mannar)
Local groups across the North-East have accused Sri Lankan police of ignoring or aiding illegal actual perpetrators while using the issue as an excuse to crack down on communities.
