Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP MA Sumanthiran has condemned the arrest of Tamil National People’s Front MP Selvarajah Kajendran for participating in peaceful protests against the Sri Lankan president’s visit to Jaffna.
Kajendren was arrested alongside 17 others, including TNPF lawyer Kanagaratnam Sugash, for holding a black flag protest during the Sri Lankan President's visit to inaugurate the Jaffna Cultural Hall as a part of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day. The day is regarded as a 'black day' for the Tamil nation, as it continues to be occupied by the Sri Lankan state.
Kajendren has since been released on bail.
In his statement, Sumanthiran also slammed the activities of Sinhala Buddhist monks who rallied outside of Sri Lanka’s parliament to protest the 13th amendment and burned a copy of the island’s constitution.
We strongly condemn the arrest of Hon. Selvarajah Kajendran et al in Jaffna last afternoon, while others are permitted to burn parts of the Constitution outside the #Parliament itself! This unashamed act yet again exposes the racist attitude of the #Government. #Right_to_Protest.
— M A Sumanthiran (@MASumanthiran) February 12, 2023
The monks have accused President Wickremesinghe of encouraging separatism by allowing for the implementation of the 13th amendment.