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Shops and stores across Nedunkerny were closed all day on Friday, as a mark of protest over Sri Lanka’s arrests of eight Tamils who took part in Shivarathri observances at the Vedukkunaari Adi Shiva temple in Vavuniya last week.
Trading and daily economic activities were brought to a standstill, with shopkeepers and residents vowing to continue their protest, until all those detained are released and charges dropped.
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Protests were held in Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Jaffna to condemn the violence and arrests by Sri Lankan police that disrupted Shivarathri celebrations at the Vedukkunaari Athi Sivan temple on Friday.
The Athi Sivan Kovil atop the Vedukkunaari mountain in Vavuniya has been a place of worship for Tamil people for generations. However, Sri Lanka's archaeology department has declared as an ancient Buddhist site, amidst efforts by the state to carry out ‘Sinhalisation’ of traditionally Tamil sites in recent years. Efforts to colonise Tamil sites and areas have been aided by Sri Lanka's military and archaeology department, who have frequently accompanied Buddhist monks.
On the night of the festival last week, riot police were deployed, and police placed roadblocks preventing water bowsers from parking near the vicinity of the temple. Devotees had to walk nearly 5km to obtain drinking water. The police then arrested the chief priest and several others for conducting the rituals. They are yet to be released on bail.
