Police arresting the Common Left Candidate Vickramabahu Karunaratne's representative Dharmasiri Lankapeli at the funeral of the father of LTTE leader Velupuillai Prabhakaran is a politically motivated act.
On Sunday Comrade Lankapeli was arrested by the Velvetithurai police while he was addressing the gathering at the funeral of Thiruvengadam Velupillai. Velvetithurai is the birthplace of LTTE leader V Prabhakaran.
He was representing Comrade Bahu at the invitation of Tamil Presidential Candidate MK Shivajilingam to whom the handling of final rites were entrusted by the LTTE leaders family. He was the only Sinhala speaker. The Left Front sent Chamil Jayanetti and Dharmasiri Lankapeli to represent the party.
The police who switched off the public address system by force while he was speaking in Sinhala accused him of inciting racial hatred later told media that Lankapeli has violated public addressing regulations.
On Sunday Comrade Lankapeli was arrested by the Velvetithurai police while he was addressing the gathering at the funeral of Thiruvengadam Velupillai. Velvetithurai is the birthplace of LTTE leader V Prabhakaran.
He was representing Comrade Bahu at the invitation of Tamil Presidential Candidate MK Shivajilingam to whom the handling of final rites were entrusted by the LTTE leaders family. He was the only Sinhala speaker. The Left Front sent Chamil Jayanetti and Dharmasiri Lankapeli to represent the party.
The police who switched off the public address system by force while he was speaking in Sinhala accused him of inciting racial hatred later told media that Lankapeli has violated public addressing regulations.
Violation
Rejecting the police excuse Common Left Candidate Comrade Vickramabahu questions how every other speaker was allowed to speak in Tamil before and after Lankapeli
Lankapeli was taken to the Velvetithurai police station amidst protests by him and MP Shivajilingam.
His offer to go and record a statement once the ceremony is over was rejected by the police.
"This is a clear violation of humanitarian, civil and election laws," said Com. Vickramabahu.
This clearly shows that the police was acting to destroy the unity emerging between Tamils and Sinhalese against two war criminals competing to become the next president of the country.
Comrade Lankapeli was later released by the police due to national and international pressure.
We Tamils in Sydney Feels strongly as stated " This is a clear violation of humanitarian,civil and election laws"
ReplyDeleteJegan Sydney Australi