Protests were held in Batticaloa, Jaffna and Mannar on Friday, condemning the recent flurry of arrests of anti-government protesters in the South.
The protests, organised by the North-East Coordinating Committee, called on the Sri Lankan government to stop arresting and assaulting those who had organised and participated in the mass anti-government protests in recent months and release those who have already been detained.
Demonstrators held placards that read 'Stop violating human rights' and 'Release peaceful protesters' .
In a statement, the organisation said that they "fear that the violent and undemocratic acts of the present Sri-Lankan government would lead the country towards another dark era."
"Therefore, we call upon the Sri-Lankan government to stop violating the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the people and to restore democracy and rule of law," they added.
The arrests come as part of a renewed crackdown unleashed by Sri Lanka's recently appointed President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
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