The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has called for Sri Lankan police to open an investigation after a statute of SWRD Bandaranaike was temporarily blindfolded by protestors last week, claiming a Tamil Guardian article had inspired the move.
Dayasiri Jayasekara wrote to Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne demanding an investigation into the move, according to The Morning.
He also went on to claim the temporary blindfolding “was based on an article” by Dr Thusiyan Nandakumar that was published in the Tamil Guardian last week. However, neither Jayasekara or The Morning referred directly to Dr Nandakumar or the Tamil Guardian by name.
“It is clear that the incident of an individual standing on the statue and blindfolding it was based on an article published in the particular website on 22 April,” Jayasekara’s letter reportedly read. “This raises the question of whether the separatists representing the said website are subtly using the people’s struggle currently being waged at the Galle Face Green for their agendas.”
Dr Nandakumar’s article, entitled ‘Why Sri Lanka’s protestors must topple the statue of Bandaranaike in Colombo’, argues that the statue should be removed from Galle Face Green where anti-government protests are currently taking place.
Read more: Why Sri Lanka’s protestors must topple the statue of Bandaranaike in Colombo
A former Sri Lankan prime minister, Bandaranaike oversaw two anti-Tamil pogroms that killed hundreds and was the architect behind the 1956 Sinhala Only Act, a piece of legislation that spurred decades of more racist violence.
“Around the world, monuments to racists have been toppled and removed from prominent public arenas,” said Dr Nandakumar. “The same should happen to this one. It could instead be housed in a place of learning, where current and future generations can study how Bandaranaike was a key figure in furthering the Tamil genocide.”
Despite Jayasekara’s letter, the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon reportedly told The Morning that he has not received any complaints with regards to damage made to the statue.
“I’m glad Jayasekara and Sri Lanka’s protestors are reading the Tamil Guardian,” Dr Nandakumar continued. “Let’s hope they take my advice.”