The Tamil politician Peter Ilancheliyan was subjected to harassment and surveillance by the Sri Lankan army as he attempted to mark Tamil Genocide Day on May 18.
Ilancheliyan had earlier paid tribute to the victims of the Mullivaikkal massacres at Nandikadal with fellow politician M K Sivajilingam in the morning.
Sri Lankan military and police harass Tamil politician throughout Tamil Genocide Day
In the evening, soldiers surrounded Ilancheliyan's home as his family held a private vigil at the entrance to their property. Public commemorations had been banned in the Mullaitivu district and soldiers had been patrolling key areas to enforce the ban.
The sudden deployment caused alarm in the neighbourhood.
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