A Sri Lankan court has rejected a request from police that sought to prevent protestors gathering outside Temple Trees in Colombo this week, just days after another Sri Lankan court granted a police order to ban commemoration events for a Tamil hunger striker.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court refused an order requested by the Colpetty Police to prevent protesters from protesting opposite the Sri Lankan prime minister’s residence at Temple Trees
In the Tamil North-East last week, the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court banned commemoration events that were planned to be held to mark the death of Annai Poopathy, a Tamil woman who fasted unto death in protest against the atrocities committed by Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).
Her children were prevented from visiting her grave and locals were stopped from lighting lamps.
The ruling in the North-East follows several similar efforts over the years to restrict and block Tamil commemorative events.