A motorcade to remember LTTE member Rasiah Parthipan alias ‘Thileepan’, who died while on a hunger-strike 36 years ago, reached its destination in Jaffna yesterday (25).
It began the journey from Pottuvil.
The motorcade came under attack in Trincomalee on 17 September and six persons were arrested over the incident.
A memorial for ‘Thileepan’ took place on the previous day at Vattakachchi in Kilinochchi, where a photograph of his was garlanded.
Also a Jaffna University student, he started a fast unto death in front of Kandasamy Kovil in Nallur on 15 September, 1987 to highlight the demands of his community.
He died 11 days later.
‘Thileepan’ is being remembered annually, which has led to controversy and violent incidents at times.
Indictments over 2020 Thileepan commemoration
Meanwhile, the Colombo High Court served indictments on former MP M.K. Sivajilingam for committing offenses while marking the death anniversary of 'Thileepan' in 2020.
The attorney general has filed indictments against Sivajilingam for organising and participating in a memorial event at Kondavil in Jaffna on or around 15 September, 2020.
He has allegedly violated an order made by the president under the Public Security Ordinance through an extraordinary gazette notification dated 29.08.2011, Article 44(2) of the Constitution and Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
