• Claims launching a hartal is a futile act as Police has acted in accordance with the law

The Ministry of Public Security downplayed the need for a hartal protest in the Northern and Eastern Provinces today (15), as the suspects linked to the incident in question have already been arrested and remanded in line with court orders.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) announced recently that there would be a hartal in the North and the East today.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Public Security Minister, Ananda Wijepala said that there is no reason for a hartal. “They say that there will be a hartal, but there is no reason to hold it. The individuals involved in the incident in question have been arrested and remanded. Whether there is a hartal or not, we have nothing else to do. We will take further action according to court orders. Launching a hartal is a futile act.”

He further said that similar incidents occur in other provinces as well, but that people in those areas do not launch hartals. “We should not view these incidents through the lens of race/ethnicity or religion. When a crime happens, the Police act against anyone responsible, regardless of their background. We have proven this in practice over the past few months.”

The hartal, called for today in the North and the East by the ITAK, is in protest against what they described as the alleged ‘brutality of the military’ following the death of a 32-year-old person. His body was found in the Muthuiyankaddu Tank, which is located in close proximity to an Army camp. In a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, ITAK Secretary, President's Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran urged an urgent and impartial investigation into the death, as well as the removal of what he described as the “excessive presence of the military” in the North and the East.