Jaffna Mayor demands detained deputy mayor to be released within 3 days

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 May 2010, 10:45 GMT]
Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Jaffna Mayor, Ms. Yogeswari Patkunam said that unless Jaffna deputy mayor, Ilango alias Regan arrested and detained in Jaffna remand prison is released within three days Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) employees will abstain from their duties bringing all the work of JMC to a stand still, in a media release to local dailies. Meanwhile, JMC opposition parties accused Mayor’s husband Patkunam of forcing JMC employees to abstain from duty Tuesday. The employees however gave up the protest when Minister Douglas Devananda and the Mayor requested them in the afternoon to do so. Following this Mayor Ms. Yogeswari Patkunam issued the media massage, which has drawn the attention of peninsula residents who consider it as an open challenge to the judicial system, sources in Jaffna said.

The employees of JMC, after signing on reporting for duties Tuesday morning, abstained from performing their duties and assembled in the entrance of JMC building.

On Sunday, the arrested Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) coordinator of Thenmaraadchi zone, Alexander Soosaimuththu alias Charles, for allegedly threatening Chaavakachcheari Magistrate K. Prabakaran for having issued arrest warrant on EPDP suspects involved in the abduction and murder of student Kapilnath, was placed in Jaffna remand prison.

The second suspect, Ilango alias Regan, the deputy mayor of Jaffna was arrested and detained in Jaffna prison Monday.