The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi has called for a hartal on Aug. 15 in the Northern and Eastern provinces to protest the alleged killing of a man by soldiers from the Sri Lankan Army’s 63rd Division.
In a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran said the body of Edirmanasingam Kabilraj, 32, was found in the Muttaiyankattu Tank on Aug. 9, two days after he and four others were reportedly summoned to the army camp and severely beaten.
The ITAK said some soldiers have been arrested in connection with the incident and urged the president to ensure an unhindered investigation and hold those responsible accountable. The letter also called for reducing what it described as the “excessive presence” of the military in the north and east.
The hartal is set to take place across both provinces to protest what the ITAK described as continuing military brutality. (Newswire)
