Last year, the military launched an investigation into those who lit torches on Karthika Diwali. The same incident has taken place in Mullaitivu this year as well.
Ambika Sargunathan, a lawyer and former commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, lamented that people living in the north continue to be denied the freedom to enjoy their basic rights. ‘ Has always been questioned.
Residents of the Mullaitivu district have said that the army was involved in disturbing some parts of the district while lighting lanterns on the eve of the Karthika festival.
The visit to the memorials of relatives who lost their lives in the war on November 27 has been going on for many years, and in recent years it has been hampered by obstacles.
Against this backdrop, the military, perplexed by the lights being lit on the eve of Karthika Diwali, went to some of the houses where the lights were installed, conducted investigations and acted in a threatening manner.
Ambika Sargunanathan has taken to her Twitter page to comment on the news published in Veerakesari.
‘Last year too, the military carried out investigations on those who lit the torches on Karthika Deepam.
The same incident has taken place in Mullaitivu this year as well. The people of the North continue to be denied the freedom to enjoy their basic rights. Not only that, but ‘Is this the reconciliation that the government is claiming?’ He also questioned.
Re-editing his post, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s co-ordinating secretary, G. Kasilingam, said he had spoken to a journalist who had written the news from the field and that no one had been ‘harassed’, as Ambika Sargunathan had claimed.
He further said that the police went to the area and questioned the people about the incidents taking place there and the people explained that it was a ‘Hindu festival’ and after that the police left.
The Prime Minister’s Coordinating Secretary said on his Twitter account that he would seek clarification from the concerned authorities in this regard.
Responding to this, Ambika Sargunanathan said, ‘I have made my record by quoting the news published in Veerakesari. Not only that, but I did not say that the people there were ‘persecuted’, except as I mentioned in my post.
The military is also conducting public inquiries into the whereabouts of people living in the area. So the police are not really investigating, are they? ‘ That begs the question.
Kasilingam replied, ‘I do not see any problem with the police carrying out their duties.
However I am investigating this because you say that the people there have been questioned. However, I hope those who provided you with the information are not supporters of your party. It is noteworthy that Ambika Sargunathan has denied this, stating that she is not a member of any political party.