Sri Lankan soldiers ramp up restoration work on IPKF tomb in Jaffna

by Abi
Aug 18, 2017

Photographs: Shalin for Tamil Guardian

Over 50 Sri Lankan soldiers were engaged in restoring the tomb of an Indian Army officer in a bid to complete work before the visit of a senior Indian Army commander.

A large-scale clean-up operation by the Sri Lankan Army of the tombstone and surrounding area took place on Friday, with reports that the Indian Army’s Southern Commander and former serving soldier in the IPKF occupation of the North-East, Lt. Gen. P. M. Hariz would be visiting the tomb this weekend.

The tomb on Raja Street in the Jaffna suburb of Koppay South was built for the commanding officer of an Indian Army camp in the same area, who was killed in battle with the LTTE in August 1987.

The area was closed off to the public during Friday’s clean-up activities and journalists in particular were prevented from taking photographs by the Sri Lankan army.

The so-called Indian Peace Keeping Forces that occupied the North-East between 1987 and 1990 are accused of perpetrating several atrocities including massacres, enforced disappearances and sexual violence.

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