SLA compels students, public to attend Jaffna tamasha

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 May 2008, 17:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities summoned government officials and departmental heads to SLA Palaali Military Head Quarters, prior to the SLA organized three-day Veasak Carnival that began Friday in Jaffna Duraippaah Stadium, and directed them to compel students, traders and the public attend the above carnival, Jaffna Secretariat sources said. Students from schools in Jaffna peninsula were transported in buses to attend the carnival where all entrants were subjected to rigorous body check before entering the heavily guarded carnival grounds, sources in Jaffna said.

SLA in Jaffna had attempted to conduct a similar tamasha during the Tamil-Sinhala New Year in April but had to abandon the idea due to lack of support from the public in the peninsula.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka government minister and General Secretary of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda, arrived in Jaffna Saturday evening accompanied by Jaffna District SLA Commander, Major. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, and the Commanders of Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force to attend the carnival.

The Jaffna SLA commander was visiting Jaffna after a long period of absence, the sources added.

The minister in his press report said that he will be meeting the public at the EPDP office located in Sridar Theatre on Stanley Road, Jaffna.

The SLA organized three-day Vesak carnival will end on Sunday.