As many as 11 Tamils, including a Batticaloa schoolboy, have now been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after Maaveerar Naal commemorations this week.
As tens of thousands paid tribute to those who died in the Tamil liberation struggle, Sri Lankan authorities launched a crackdown, which included storming a remembrance event and several arrests.
Amongst those detained under Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism legislation is 18-year school boy Newton Danushan.
He attended a remembrance event in Batticaloa to help his father, who runs a business providing sound equipment. A letter from his school, the Vantharumoolai Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Sittandy, confirmed that Newton was due to sit for his A Level exams next year.
Several others have been detained for various reasons, including carrying red and yellow flags and hiring out vehicles or power generators.
“The most ridiculous arrest is of a bakery employee for selling a cake,” tweeted Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.
Govt is not genuine in its reconciliation efforts. So far 10 individuals have been arrested under the PTA in Batticaloa this week. Amongst the arrested is a woman, student and a politician . The most ridiculous arrest is of a bakery employee for selling a cake. #repealPTA https://t.co/weNd2Uftjz
— Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) December 1, 2023
The arrests sparked international concern yesterday, with statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the US, the UK, the EU and Canada all condemning the detentions.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
