A Point Pedro football team paid tribute to slain human rights lawyer and politician, Kumar Ponnambalam, during its match today, marking the 17th year since his assassination.
Kumar Ponnambalam, a prominent human rights lawyer and leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) was assassinated in a busy Colombo suburb during Chandrika Kumaratunge's government, his killers have not been brought to justice.
Mr Ponnambalam, who was renowned for his pro bono work in defending Tamil and Sinhala youths detained under Sri Lanka's draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, had filed reports in important human rights cases that incriminated the Chandrika government, including the gang rape and murder of the Tamil girl, Krishanthi Kumaraswamy and mass graves in Chemmani.
He was shot dead by unidentified gunman on January 5th, 2000, whilst in his car on Ramakrishna Lane, in the Tamil area of Colombo, Wellawatte.
The murder came a few days after he had written an open letter to then president Chandrika, condemning her anti-Tamil policies.
(from Tamil Guardian's No justice for assassinated human rights lawyer Kumar Ponnambalam, 15 years on)
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