News
War memorial events banned in North
View(s):While the Government finalises plans to celebrate Victory Day in Matara next Sunday, Police and the military have warned that no public gatherings to remember persons killed in the final stages of the conflict will be allowed in the Northern Province. Special security arrangements would be put in place to monitor whether anyone is organising public events to remember the dead, but there would be no restrictions on family members to remember the dead within their house premises, Military spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya said.
He said that even two families would not be allowed to get together to have remembrances as these could turn into a large group and make it a commemoration.Meanwhile, Jaffna’s Senior Police Superintendent W.P. Wimalasena said police teams had been deployed in Jaffna to be alert to any move to hold public events to remember people killed in the final stages of the conflict.
“Any persons trying to hoist black flags, distribute leaflets or put up posters will be considered as supporting of terrorism and such persons will be taken into custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act,” he warned. He said steps were being taken to prevent such remembrance events. The SSP said the authorities had closed the Jaffna University to prevent any remembrance events there.
The fifth anniversary of the defeat of the LTTE or Victory Day will be celebrated by the Government next Sunday in Matara with military parades and other events.