The Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Renuka Perera has been arrested for allegedly spreading false information regarding the recent Maaveerar Naal commemorations.

It is reported that Renuka Perera was arrested by officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The SLPP Administrative Secretary was arrested from his residence in Kotikawatta today (05 Dec). (Newswire)

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Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala commenting on ‘Maaveerar Naal’ commemorations in Sri Lanka said that certain politically organized groups are attempting to use the event to promote divisions and racism in the country.

Addressing Parliament today, Minister Wijepala reiterated that although there is no possibility of holding events using LTTE signage or symbols, people were not obstructed from remembering their relatives who died in the war.

“244 commemoration events were observed in the North, according to Police. Out of these, only 10 commemoration events had displayed signage or symbols of the LTTE, against which the Police had acted,” the Minister said.

“Facts have been reported to the Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court on two incidents, while facts were also reported to the Point Pedro Magistrate’s Court regarding four incidents. One incident has been reported to the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court. A resident of Chunnakkam has been arrested for promoting the LTTE and remanded until today (Dec 4),” he explained. The Minister said that several others were arrested for publishing or promoting images related to the LTTE recently.

The Minister also revealed that a complaint had been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department against a newspaper for distorting and publishing his earlier comments on the matter.

“Some in the South attempt to spread false news online, especially using images of commemorative events held elsewhere in the world. These are politically organised attempts to promote divisions within communities,” the Minister said.

Several persons were arrested for such online activity which were politically motivated, the Minister said, adding that two out of those arrested had contested for the elections under the Gas Cylinder symbol.

Meanwhile former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara charged that the Police have discriminated against the people of the North and South, claiming that two laws have been used to file charges on similar offences on the matter.

“The cases you have filed have been filed under two different laws,” Jayasekera said in Parliament. “In the South, the charges have been filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, while in the North, charges have been filed under the Penal Code,” he said.

Responding to the statement, government Ministers including the Public Security Minister accused MP Jayasekara of inciting racist comments. (Newswire)

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Social activist Kelum Jayasumana who was arrested for sharing a post related to Maaveerar Naal commemorations on social media, has been granted bail.

The social activist was granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today. 

Kelum Jayasumana was recently arrested and in remand custody over allegations of sharing a picture on Facebook regarding the Maaveerar commemorations in the North.

He is accused of resharing a picture related to the LTTE that had been shared by a woman in France on Facebook. 

During the proceedings, the Magistrate questioned the CID for not providing evidence of public unrest linked to the suspect’s actions. The Magistrate stated that suspects cannot be remanded without evidence. 

Granting bail to Jayasumana, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court fixed the case for hearing on 03 April 2025.  (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) have arrested three individuals for allegedly sharing content related to the banned LTTE organization linked to previous ‘Maaveerar Naal’ commemorations on social media.

The suspects, aged 28, 35, and 45, are residents of Maradana, Chunnakam, and Baddegama.

According to police reports, the suspects shared photographs and videos featuring LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Facebook. They are also accused of circulating old footage from previous LTTE Maaveerar Naal celebrations as if it were from this year’s events.

The suspects were taken into custody under charges of inciting public unrest, promoting the activities of a proscribed organization, and disseminating false information via social media. The arrests were made under Section 120 of the Penal Code and Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979.

The CID and the TID are conducting further investigations into the incident. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to monitoring and taking action against any activity that violates the country’s laws and disrupts national harmony. (Newswire)

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People in Kilinochchi commemorated ‘Maaveerar Naal’ today, despite adverse weather conditions experienced in the area. 

Jaffna District MP Sivagnanam Shritharan shared video footage of the commemoration event, which showed several people remembering their family members killed during Sri Lanka’s war.

Earlier this week, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said that there was no possibility of holding events using logos, uniforms or pictures of LTTE cadres during the commemoration event observed on November 27. 

Minister Wijepala said, however, that the people of the North will not be obstructed from remembering their relatives and will have to do so by adhering to the laws. (Newswire)

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Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says that there is no possibility of holding events using logos, uniforms or pictures of LTTE cadres to commemorate ‘Maaveerar Naal’ observed on November 27. 

Minister Wijepala said, however, that the people of the North will not be obstructed from remembering their relatives who died in Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Responding to questions by journalists during an event in Galgamuwa yesterday, Minister Wijepala revealed as per the laws of the nation, the LTTE is a banned terrorist outfit.

He further said that the government has not prevented the public in the North from remembering their relatives who died in the war.

He said, however, they will have to do so by adhering to the laws when holding commemorations, adding that they have the right to remember their dead family members.

Minister Wijepala, noting that certain groups have often attempted to give different interpretations of past commemorations observed by the people of the North, urged the public to refrain from holding memorials that involve items associated with the LTTE.

Watch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zbzbGlhoos&t=183s (Newswire)

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The commemoration of Maaveerar Naal, a remembrance day observed by Sri Lankan Tamils to remember the deaths of militants who fought with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the civil war, has been reportedly disrupted by the Sri Lanka Police in Batticaloa.

According to reports, the commemorations were held at the Tharavai Maaveerar Thuyilum illam in Batticaloa yesterday.

The Police allegedly intervened and prevented the people from continuing the commemoration events, while they had also removed red and yellow flags put up at the cemetery.

Video footage shared by MP Gajen Ponnambalam shows a confrontation between the Police and people who had gathered to commemorate Maaveerar Naal in Batticaloa.

Speaking during the confrontation with the Police, an organiser who had participated in the commemoration events, accused the Police of disrupting the event despite the court having permitted them to carry out the commemoration. (NewsWire)

UPDATE – Cameras captured the moment that Sri Lankan police raided a Maaveerar Naal commemoration in Batticaloa.

As lamps were about the be lit and the 'Thuyium Illam' song started being played, uniformed Sri Lankan officers were pulling down red and yellow bunting that had been… pic.twitter.com/IRb1Has9W1

— Tamil Guardian (@TamilGuardian) November 27, 2023

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