As many as 11 Tamils, including a Batticaloa schoolboy, have now been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after Maaveerar Naal commemorations this week.
As tens of thousands paid tribute to those who died in the Tamil liberation struggle, Sri Lankan authorities launched a crackdown, which included storming a remembrance event and several arrests.
Amongst those detained under Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism legislation is 18-year school boy Newton Danushan.
He attended a remembrance event in Batticaloa to help his father, who runs a business providing sound equipment. A letter from his school, the Vantharumoolai Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Sittandy, confirmed that Newton was due to sit for his A Level exams next year.
Several others have been detained for various reasons, including carrying red and yellow flags and hiring out vehicles or power generators.
“The most ridiculous arrest is of a bakery employee for selling a cake,” tweeted Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.
Govt is not genuine in its reconciliation efforts. So far 10 individuals have been arrested under the PTA in Batticaloa this week. Amongst the arrested is a woman, student and a politician . The most ridiculous arrest is of a bakery employee for selling a cake. #repealPTA https://t.co/weNd2Uftjz
— Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) December 1, 2023
The arrests sparked international concern yesterday, with statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the US, the UK, the EU and Canada all condemning the detentions.
