The use of the word ‘Eelam’ on the pedestal of a Thiruvalluvar statue in Kilinochchi is being investigated by Sri Lankan terrorism police.
The Thiruvalluvar statue which was gifted by the Tamil-Nadu based Ulaga Tamil Sangam features a globe as a pedestal, on which the island of Sri Lanka was labelled as Eelam with the Tamil word Ilankai in brackets.
Terrorism Investigation Department personnel from Colombo interrogated the Karaichchi Pradeshiya Sabai Secretary, Ganeshan Hamsanathan on Tuesday, questioning him about the permission granted to build the state and ordering for action to be taken to erase the word Eelam immediately.
The word Eelam has since been blacked out on the globe.
Members of Kilinochchi Tamil Sangam who had decided that the island would be labelled Eelam, argued that Eelam was the Tamil word for the island, pointing out that Eelam is even referred to in the Tamil translation of the Sri Lankan national anthem.