The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) remembered assassinated human rights lawyer and former leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar Ponnambalam, at their Jaffna office yesterday.
Ponnambalam was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on January 5th, 2000, whilst in his car on Ramakrishna Lane, in Wellawette, Colombo. The murder came a few days after he had written an open letter to then president Chandrika Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga, condemning her anti-Tamil policies.
He was renowned for his pro bono work in defending Tamil and Sinhala youths detained under Sri Lanka's notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act and had filed reports in important human rights cases that incriminated the Chandrika government, including the gang rape and murder of Tamil student, Krishanthi Kumaraswamy and mass graves in Chemmani.
Ponnambalam was posthumously conferred the title 'Maamanithar' by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and called him "a revolutionary political leader who fought for human justice with sincere determination and commitment."
Following his death, the LTTE released a statement:
"Faced with constant threat to his life and property, Mr. Ponnambalam lived in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital and boldly challenged his racist adversaries. His speeches and writings, which touched on extremely controversial issues, expressed its truthfullness, genuiness, uprightness and indomitable spirit for justice."
"He pleaded for the rights and liberties of thousands of innocent Tamils in Colombo who were subjected to constant persecution at the hands of the tyrannical Sinhala state. He also voiced for the Tamils rights at international forums," the statement added.
