Jaffna-based journalist Uthayarasa Shalin has been summoned to Colombo by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) along with five other residents of a Jaffna suburb.
The summons are in relation to the display of a map of the Tamil homeland during a Hindu temple festival in Aanaikkottai, Jaffna.
Along with the journalist, the five others summoned include members of the temple’s youth forum, administration members and one of the temple’s priests. They have all been summoned to appear individually on different dates.
Mr Shalin has questioned his inclusion among the summons, stating that although he lives in the area he is currently not part of the temple’s administration or youth forum.
The incident had sparked weeks of investigation and summons of Aanaikottai locals and temple board members by several different divisions, including Kankesanthurai Police’s intelligence division, Manippay and Jaffna police and Koppay security forces.
Most recently, Jaffna police said the investigation was closed after taking statements from the temple’s youth forum members and the temple’s chair and secretary, and warning the temple to not repeat such actions in the future.
However locals have said the fresh summons from the TID are aimed at intimidating the community.
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