A Tamil man was arrested and released on police bail yesterday for having a banner which read "Tamil Genocide Memorial Day".
Pathmanathan Sirojan, a staff member of the AHAM Humanitarian Resource Centre was reportedly arrested by the Ayithamalai police during an commemoration event in Naripulthottam, Batticaloa.
Commemorative events have been taking place across the North-East in the lead up to May 18, also known as 'Tamil Genocide Day', to remember the tens of thousands of Tamils that were massacred in a military offensive by Sri Lanka.
This is the latest attempt by the Sri Lankan authorities to repress Tamil memorialisation activities. Sri Lanka has continuously obstructed Tamil commemorations in the North-East either by enforcing legal restrictions or by harassment and intimidation by the state's security forces.