SLA restricts devotees to high security zone temple

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 July 2002, 20:52 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Wednesday informed the Hindu Affairs Minister that only eight devotees and a priest would be allowed daily to visit and conduct rituals at the Rajarajeswary Amman temple, which is in the high security zone in Valikamam North.

At a conference held Tuesday at Palaly main army camp it was agreed to allow devotees to this temple from 1 August. The number of persons to be allowed was not decided. Minister Maheswaran participated at the discussion presided by Major General Sarath Fonseka.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka High Commissioner to United Kingdom Mr Faiz Mustapha arrived Jaffna and had discussion with the UNICEF representative in the district, Ms Bennyquick Brunt regarding human rights issues.

The discussion took place at the office of the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna.

The Jaffna region Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Premaratne Bandara, HRC Vavuniya regional coordinator Mr.S. Ravindran also participated in the discussion. Though Mr Mustapha was scheduled to meet SLA high officials at Palaly, he cut short of his stay and returned to Colombo around noon, HRC sources said.