Tamils in Batticaloa are protesting today to condemn the violence and arrests by Sri Lankan police that disrupted Shivarathri celebrations at the Vedukkunaari Athi Sivan temple on Friday.
Protestors outraged by Friday's violence, demonstrated from Batticaloa clock tower to Gandhi park, demanding that Tamils should have the freedom of religion or belief.
On Friday, locals gathered at the temple to observe Shivarathri before Sri Lankan riot police arrived and marred the religious event. Although Vavuniya Magistrate Court had ordered that the worship could go ahead, the police arrested eight worhsippers and assaulted Tamil National People Front MP Selvarajah Kajendren. The police also seized valuables estimated to be worth around 10 lakhs, including food, pongal, and pooja items.
Earlier in the week, a letter sent from the Buddhist Information Centre in Kelaniya was sent to Sri Lanka’s recently appointed controversial police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon calling on the authorities to halt the Shivarathri ceremony.
The Athi Sivan Kovil atop the Vedukkunaari mountain in Vavuniya, has been a place of worship for Tamil people for many generations but has been declared as an ancient Buddhist site by Sri Lanka's archaeology department. There has been a siginificant increase in the Sinhalisation of traditionally Tamil sites in recent years. Efforts to colonise Tamil sites and areas have been aided by Sri Lanka's military and archaeology and department.
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