The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) have condemned the demolition of the Mullivaikkal monument at the University of Jaffna, as protests continue demanding its reconstruction.      

The SLMC has pledged to join a hartal on Monday and requested its “supports in the north and east to join hands in solidarity with fellow Tamils”.

^{Photograph courtesy JDS Lanka}

Former Minister and ACMC leader Rishad Bathiudeen, took to social media, “strongly condemning” the destruction of a  Mullivaikkal monument at Jaffna university and also called for supporters to join the hartal.

Bathiudeen stated, “This memorial was erected on the campus of the University of Jaffna in memory of the Tamil brothers and university students who lost their lives in the war. Why was the evil intention to hastily demolish this monument, which had been on the university campus for so many years, and to destroy it completely?”

“There can be no other reason than to satisfy racists and extremists. The burning of bodies and the destruction of monuments are manifestations of the rampant racism against minorities in this country. No human being would accept this kind of racist activity,” Bathiudeen highlighted.

He went on to state that the Sri Lankan government's promises of building “ethnic harmony” must be disregarded in light of the sub-chancellor claim that "the university administration demolished and destroyed the Mullivaikkal monument due to pressure from above." 

“It is as if they think that by crushing the possessions of the minority people and breaking their hearts, they can appease the racists and improve the country,” Bathiudeen stated. 

Read his full statement here and his tweet here.