Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing".
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the young artist and called on the government to secure his immediate release.
"As the Chairman of the Mannar Urban Council and as a Tamil, I express my strongest condemnation," he said.
Sangeethsan, better known as HipHop Sangee, was arrested earlier this week after Sri Lankan authorities alleged that videos he uploaded to social media promoted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He was subsequently produced before the Chavakachcheri Magistrate's Court and remanded until 17 June under the PTA.
The arrest has sparked widespread criticism across the Tamil homeland and diaspora, with politicians, lawyers, artists, civil society organisations and rights advocates questioning the use of anti-terror legislation against artistic expression.
Addressing the controversy, Vasanthan said the arrest was particularly troubling given promises made by the current administration regarding equality and justice.
"Thinking that Tamils in Sri Lanka do not even have the right to sing is deeply shocking. This government came to power promising rights and social justice for Tamils, yet today a young man has been arrested for singing a song."
He urged the government to reverse course and release the artist without delay.
"Through the media, I urge the government to immediately release this young singer without any conditions," he said.
The intervention adds to growing political pressure over the case.
Earlier this week, President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran announced that a fundamental rights petition would be filed before the Supreme Court seeking Sangeethsan's release. Lawyers representing the artist have argued that the material cited by authorities does not fall within the scope of the PTA and does not constitute a terrorism-related offence.
Tamil political leaders across the homeland and Tamil Nadu have also condemned the arrest. Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman described the detention as evidence of the continued repression of Tamil political and cultural expression and questioned how singing a song could be treated as terrorism more than sixteen years after the end of the armed conflict.
The arrest comes amid increasing scrutiny of Tamil cultural activities across the North-East. In recent weeks, occupying Sri Lankan police have questioned musicians, intervened in performances and launched investigations into songs linked to Tamil homeland identity and memories of the armed conflict.
Last week, Gokulan, the son of the late Tamil musician S. G. Santhan, was among those summoned and questioned by police following a musical performance in Urumpirai.
Critics argue that the detention of Sangeethsan forms part of a wider pattern of criminalising Tamil artistic, cultural and political expression.
During the same media briefing, Vasanthan also raised concerns regarding rising sand prices in Mannar. He said efforts had previously been undertaken by the District Secretary, with his support, to regulate prices and make sand available for Rs. 51,500.
However, he noted that complaints had since been received from members of the public alleging that sand was once again being sold for between Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 80,000.
Vasanthan called on authorities to take action against those charging excessive prices and urged the cancellation of licences where complaints are substantiated through evidence.