Nayinaatheevu festival to be held despite SLN restrictions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 June 2007, 20:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLA) Jaffna high command refused to relax current restrictions when requested by the Trustee Board of Nayinaatheevu Naakapooshani Amman temple that will soon hold its annual festival, in a meeting held at Veala'nai Regional Secretariat chaired by its Secretary, attended by SLN high officials and members of the Trustee Board Tuesday, sources in Veala'nai said.

As thousands of devotees from Jaffna peninsula and other parts are expected to take part in the temple's annual festival, the trustee board requested SLN to relax the rigid checks and other associated restrictions, paving the way to create a conducive atmosphere.

The SLN declined to relax the security procedures especially on those coming from Allaipiddy and Kurikaadduvaan areas, sources close regional secretariat said.

The Board of Trustees decided to conduct the temple festival taking SLN presence and restrictions into due consideration.