Former Northern Provincial Council member, Thurairasa Ravikaran, was summoned by Mullaitivu police on Monday over his participation in the Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P) march earlier this month.
Speaking to the press, Ravikaran said that the police told him that he participated in the protest despite a court order banning his participation.
"I told them that the court order was a generic one and did not include my name so I did not accept it," Ravikaran explained.
“In addition, I told them that I engaged in the protests for my people and against the injustices perpetrated against them in a peaceful manner and without causing hindrance to anyone,” he added.
“I also registered the fact that since all people came together in droves to participate in the protests, I took part in the capacity that I was a people’s representative,” Ravikaran added.
Ravikaran was subjected to police intimidation on the third day of the P2P as he and other Tamils waited near Nayarthu bridge, Mullaitivu, to welcome the P2P protesters. Sri Lankan police disrupted the group of Tamils claiming the rally could not take place due to coronavirus concerns.
The march, endorsed by Tamil political parties, was met with heavy resistance from the state. A series of court orders were issued in an attempt to block the five day long rally as well a heightened security presence throughout the rally.
Sri Lanka's public security minister, Sarath Weerasekara warned that the government intends to file cases against protesters. Tamil parliamentarians have since been summoned to court for violating court orders banning them from participating in the P2P protest.
