Unrest owing to Buddhist archaeological site in Mullaitivu

A Sinhala mob attacked and destroyed a memorial float dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan as it travelled through Trincomalee today.

To mark 37 years since Thileepan’s fast unto death, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) organised a memorial rally with a commemorative vehicle dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

As the vehicle passed through Kappalthurai, Trincomalee, a Sinhala mob attacked the vehicle with stones and batons despite the presence of Sri Lankan police officers.

The vehicle set off from Pottuvil yesterday and was heading to Nallur, Jaffna to commemorate Thileepan’s sacrifice.

Thileepan began his fast on the 15th of September 1987, with 100,000 people gathered around the historic Nallur Kandwaswamy Temple in Jaffna. As he began his strike he put forward 5 demands to the Indian government.