Jaffna Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan opened the restored Ariyakulam tank, renovated with the financial assistance the Thiyahie Charitable Trust (TCT), as part of the mayors "Pure City" initiative.
The monument commemorating the history of Ariyakulam, an important Tamil heritage site in Jaffna was unveiled in three languages by the Governor of the Northern Province Jeevan Thiagarajah as the Chief Guest.
The inaugural event featured fireworks and was attended by religious leaders, political figures, members of the city council, the municipal commissioner among others.
In April, Manivannan was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division after Sri Lankan police launched an investigation into the uniforms of a Jaffna Municipal Council task force claiming the mayor was attempting to resurrect the LTTE.
Manivannan addressed the allegation in a press conference, stating that “ff taking steps to uphold the [Jaffna district] is a mistake, we will continue to make that mistake” adding that the Jaffna] Municipal Council would maintain its independence.
