Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Member of Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, former TNPF MP Selvarajah Kajendran, TNPF Women’s Wing Leader Vasuki Sudhaharan, and Velan Swamigal have been summoned by the Sri Lankan police in Jaffna, alongside Tamil journalists, over the recent series of protests against a Buddhist temple in Jaffna.
The summons is related to a protest against the illegally constructed Tissa Vihara in Thaiyiddy. The protest has been taken place every full moon day by Tamil political leaders and the public, demanding the release of Tamil land from Sri Lankan occupation.
In response to this police action, former MP Selvarajah Kajendran lodged a complaint with the Jaffna Regional Office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
The individuals summoned for questioning appeared at the police station. However, the police kept them waiting for over two hours before finally recording their statements. During the questioning, the police raised multiple inquiries, including details about complaints that had been filed with the divisional secretariat and other government departments regarding the illegal construction.
It was also pointed out to the police that the Thellippalai Divisional Secretary had confirmed during Jaffna district coordination meetings that the land on which the vihara was built belongs to private individuals, a fact acknowledged by government agencies.
Following the interrogation, Kajendran reaffirmed that they would continue their protests until the illegal vihara is removed.
