#SriLanka Police forcibly prevented Tamils in #Batticaloa from lighting a lamp in memory of Annai Poopathy aka Kanapathypillai Poopathy, a 56 y/o #Tami mother fasted unto death on April 19, 1988 to protest the atrocities committed against Tamils by Indian Peace Keeping Force. pic.twitter.com/0R8WApaL5J
— JDS (@JDSLanka) April 19, 2022
Sri Lankan police obstructed Tamils in Batticaloa from lighting a lamp to mark the 34th death anniversary of Annai Poopathy, who fasted unto death in protest against the atrocities committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).
This is the latest in a series of attempts to block memorial events for Annai Poopathy. Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan police banned Annai Poopathy's daughter, Ms Lokeshwaran Santhi, from visiting her resting place and was forced to hold a private commemoration in her home instead.
Sri Lanka has continuously repressed Tamil memorialisation activities in the North-East either by enforcing legal restrictions or by harassment and intimidation by the state's security forces.
