Kumar Ponnambalam to be remembered

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 2004, 01:36 GMT]
The fourth death anniversary of Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), who was gunned down in Wellawatte, Colombo, in 2000, is to be observed on January 5, Monday, in the NorthEast province, sources said. Wide participation of Tamil people across NorthEast is expected in the memorial event, the organizers of the event said.

The main commemoration meeting will be held on Monday afternoon at Kailasapathy Auditorium in Jaffna University.

ACTC branches throughout the northeast have organized special religious observances in Hindu temples and Christian churches remembering his valuable services to Tamils, ACTC sources said.

Monday's meeting will be presided by one of the vice-presidents of the ACTC and a former commissioner of the Jaffna Municipal Council, Mr.C.V.K.Sivagnanam.

Jaffna University Vice Chancellor, Professor C.Mohanadas, Head of the Tamil Department of the Jaffna University, Professor A.Shanmugathas, General Secretary of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union Mr.T.Mahasivam, current leader of the ACTC and parliamentarian Mr.A.Vinayagamoorthy, President of the International Thamileelam Students' Federation Mr.S.Gajendran, President of the Jaffna University Students' Federation Mr.V.Paheetharan, and a vice president of the ACTC Mr.R.E.Anandarajah are scheduled to speak at the commemoration meeting.

Mr. Ponnambalam was killed at a time when he was bringing atrocities and human rights violations against Tamils in the NorthEast to the notice of international human rights organizations.

Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) honoured him with the title "Mamanithar," describing Kumar Ponnambalam as "a revolutionary political leader who fought for human justice with sincere determination and commitment."

"Faced with constant threat to his life and property, Mr. Ponnambalam lived in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital and boldly challenged his racist adversaries. His speeches and writings, which touched on extremely controversial issues, expressed its truthfullness, genuiness, uprightness and indomitable spirit for justice," an LTTE press release said after his killing.

"He pleaded for the rights and liberties of thousands of innocent Tamils in Colombo who were subjected to constant persecution at the hands of the tyrannical Sinhala state. He also voiced for the Tamils rights at international forums. Mr. Ponnambalam was the only Tamil leader who openly and fearlessly supported the armed freedom struggle of the Liberation Tigers. He endorsed the policy of the LTTE as the authentic political project based on the right to self-determination of the Tamil people," the press release added.

"By his gallant and heroic life in advancing the legitimate cause of the Tamils amidst all dangers, Mr. Ponnambalam has earned the respect and admiration of his people as a true Tamil patriot," the press release further said.

Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam was the only son of the founder leader of the ACTC, Mr. G.G.Ponnambalam.