The acclaimed poet and actor, Jeyapalan, was arrested in Maankulam on Friday by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) at taken to the TID office in Vavuniya.
Jeyapalan, who resides in Norway having fled the ethnic conflict, had returned to pay his respects at his late mother's grave in Maankulam.
According to reports, at approximately 5pm, security forces arrested him stating he had violated visa regulations. He is understood to have entered Sri Lanka on a tourist visa.
However, according to PTI, the Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said that Jayapalan had been arrested for holding seminars in Jaffna.
"He was reported to have taken part in gatherings aimed at causing communal unrest," said Rohana.
PTI reported that Rohana said 'Tamils living outside the country can visit any place in the island but they cannot be allowed to disrupt the peace and normalcy in the country'.
Jeyapalan is a longstanding critic of the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. See here for his comments to BBC Sinhala service in 2006.
Jeyapalan, who resides in Norway having fled the ethnic conflict, had returned to pay his respects at his late mother's grave in Maankulam.
According to reports, at approximately 5pm, security forces arrested him stating he had violated visa regulations. He is understood to have entered Sri Lanka on a tourist visa.
However, according to PTI, the Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said that Jayapalan had been arrested for holding seminars in Jaffna.
"He was reported to have taken part in gatherings aimed at causing communal unrest," said Rohana.
PTI reported that Rohana said 'Tamils living outside the country can visit any place in the island but they cannot be allowed to disrupt the peace and normalcy in the country'.
Jeyapalan is a longstanding critic of the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. See here for his comments to BBC Sinhala service in 2006.