posted May 25, 2005 11:13 AM         

The Tamil groups which suspended the hartal last Saturday (21st) because of the Vesak have distributed leaflets in Sinhala and Tamil saying they would relaunch the campaign after a court ruling is given today.

Military sources said the Sinhala leaflets gave one message and the Tamil leaflets another.

The Sinhala leaflets had a moderate tone calling for religious and ethnic harmony while the Tamil leaflets warned that the campaign would be extended to the entire North-East if the statue put up in Trincomalee town was not removed.

The Tamil groups, Trincomalee taxi drivers and others involved in the dispute had taken the matter to courts last week and the magistrate had asked them to try to come to an amicable settlement today.

As the tension continued Easter Province DIG Neville Wijesinghe said the security forces were on full alert to prevent anymore trouble.

He said North-East Governor Tyronne Fernando and senior minister Maithripala Sirisena were due in Trincomalee today in a fresh bid to settle the crisis.

During the earlier hartal held from May 16 to 20 about 20 grenade explosions were reported.

Earlier this week on Sunday (22nd) morning around 11 am Sri Lanka Army and Police jointly removed the Buddha statue that was erected overnight Saturday on the roadside along Ehambaram Street in Kerniyanddy, a suburb in Trincomalee town, Police said. Building materials left behind by unidentified persons to build a shrine were also removed by the Police. Kerniyady is situated about one km off north of Trincomalee-Uppuveli road in close proximity of Sinnathoduvai Pillaiyar Kovil and Trincomalee Railway Station.

The matter was immediately brought to the notice of the top officials of the SLA and Police. Thereafter a contingent of army and personnel rushed to the site and stopped the construction work and removed all building materials from the site and the statue, police said.

This exercise was carried out after the return of a team led by the Defence Secretary Major General Asoka Jayawardene and comprising Rear Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda, Air Force Commander Donald Perera and Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando to Colombo from Trincomalee.

After the unauthorized erection of the Buddha statue close to the Trincomalee bus stand normal life in Trincomalee town was disrupted since 17th of this month.

On Tuesday the 17th when Tamil residents, responding to call made by the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Forum (TDTPF), observed a general shut down to protest the unauthorized erection of a Buddha statue close to the Trincomalee bus stand. TDTPF has been demanding the removal of the Buddha statue, sources said

Schools, provincial council offices, business establishments and bank branches were closed, sources said.

Bus services came to a standstill around noon following two explosions that took place in the heart of the town. Around noon an explosion took place near the bus stand. The security forces diffused a live grenade found on the Dockyard Road later, police said.

A person was injured in an explosion that took place Monday night around 11 p.m. near the place where the Buddha statue was erected. Later at the same night a person was assaulted near Srimavopura, a suburb in the east port town, police said.

That day two conferences organized by the Police to settle the dispute over the matter failed to reach a consensus. Hindu and Catholic priests, Muslim dignitaries and members of Buddhist clergy participated in these conferences, police said.

After that Mr. Ganesharajah, Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge Wednesday (18th) instructed the Police to take all possible steps to temporarily remove the controversial Buddha statue erected near the bus stand by having direct talks with the parties concerned. Long term solution to the matter can be found by legal action by the Urban Council, the magistrate said, according to legal sources.

Magistrate further instructed the officers concerned to take legal steps on all other unauthorized temples of other faiths in the east port town after a careful review of registered complaints.

The inquiry into the application of the Trincomalee Police regarding the tense situation over the unauthorized erection of a Buddha statue on a land belonging to the Trincomalee Urban Council and the general shut down called by the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples’ Forum (TDTPF) demanding the removal of the statue was held Wednesday (18th).

UC Special Commissioner Mr.S.Arumainayagam, UC Secretary Mr.S.Vipulanandan and TDTPF President Mr.V.Vigneswaran appeared in court on the notice issued.

However, Mr.Keerthi Priyalal, Secretary of the Three Wheelers’ Association, which was responsible for the erection of the statue, did not appear in court, legal sources said.

The Police told the court that violent incidents had taken place during the general shut down in which one person was killed and three others injured, legal sources said.

Lawyers appeared on behalf of the UC officials and TDTPF President told court that they revered Lord Buddha and are not against the Buddhist religion. But they said they suspected political motives behind the erection of the statue and only a court order for temporary removal of the statute will lead to the restoration of peace in the town, the lawyers added according to legal sources.

Meanwhile normalcy of the Trincomalee town was disrupted second day Wednesday (18th) following a general shut down on Tuesday. Schools were closed down. Provincial council offices did not function, and bus services came to a standstill, Police said.

Two explosions took place in the heart of Trincomalee town around 1 p.m. Wednesday. The person killed in an explosion Tuesday afternoon was identified as Mr Susantha of Madathady, Trincomalee, police said.

But the hard-line monks’ party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Thursday (19th) condemned a Magistrate’s judgment ordering police to temporarily remove the controversial Buddha statue erected in Trincomalee town bus stand.

JHU Parliamentary Group leader Athuruliye Rathna Thera took up the matter in Parliament and thereafter, other JHU MPs, all of whom are Buddhist monks, protested in the house, disrupting proceedings, sources said.

Parliament Speaker Mr. V. J. M. Lokku Bandara told the protesting monks there is no remit to condemn the Magistrate judgment in Parliament, and urged them to cease their condemnation of the judgment.

In his speech Athuraliye Rathna Thera, claimed the Tamil Tigers and the main cause for the removal of the statue and the magistrate’s order.

Trincomalee has been the site of simmering communal tension in recent days. Lawyers appearing on behalf of the Trincomalee Urban Council had told the court that they revered Lord Buddha and are not against the Buddhist religion, but they suspected political motives behind the erection of the Buddha statue at the bus stand.

After their protest in Parliament Thursday (19th), the monks walkout of the chamber and shouting slogans, march through Parliament Road Jeyanthypura Junction, Borrela, Maradana and until they reached Colombo Fort, where they are reportedly observing ‘Satyagraha’ protest, sources said.
While all these happen until this day our one and only Tamil Hindu cultural Minister Honorable Douglas Devanada, kept quiet in the parliament.

And the third day Schools were closed, provincial council offices, bank branches did not function and transport services came to a standstill. The Trincomalee Urban Council did not function. Delivery of mails did not take place. Markets did not function, sources said.

On fourth day Friday (20th) tensions escalated in Trincomalee after one person was injured at 12.30pm following an explosion close to the vegetable near the site where the controversial Buddha statue stands and at least three persons were admitted to the Trincomalee general hospital with cut injuries Friday in incidents that took place in the suburbs of the town, security sources in Trincomalee said.

Normal life in the Trincomalee town was disrupted for the fourth day Friday as business establishments, schools, banks, government and provincial council offices were closed down in response to the call for a general shut down demanding the removal of a Buddha statue from a land close to the bus stand and used for parking three wheelers, police said.

Earlier Thursday around midnight two bombs were thrown at the building of the Vivekananda Fisheries Society, which is located along Ehambaram Road in the main bazaar area of the east port town. The society building, houses and boats in the vicinity were damaged, according to the society sources.

A group of Tamil residents including large number of women of Division No 10 area where the Vivekananda Fisheries Society is located Friday held a sit in protest in front of the Trincomalee office of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) demanding that SLMM to take steps to provide maximum security to their area, sources said.

Later a three member-delegation of the group met with the SLMM monitors and placed their grievances. SLMM monitors led by Mr.Soren Wium-Andersen promised that they would take appropriate action on their complaint. SLMM monitors there after visited the site where the explosion took place, sources said.

After al this on Saturday (21st) Major General (retd) Asoka Jayawardene, Defence Ministry Secretary at the conclusion of four hours of discussions he held with several representatives of civil groups in the Sri Lanka naval headquarters located inside Trincomalee Dockyard said that Sri Lanka’s President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge will make a decision on the demand to remove the controversial Buddha statue which was erected overnight on May 15 in a land close to the Trincomalee bus stand and used for parking three wheelers, sources said.

Participating in the discussion Mr.V.Vigneswaran, President of the Trincomaleee District Tamil Peoples Forum (TDTPF) announced that he would suspend the general shut down in Trincomalee demanding the immediate removal of the Buddha statue from the present site for three days from Sunday. In failing to remove the statue within three days he would renew the general shut down call on an extended scale, he said.

Major General Asoka Jayawardene is reported to have replied that he was not able to give the exact date for the President’s decision to a question by Mr.Vigneswaran. However President’s decision would be announced shortly, he added.

The discussion, which commenced around at about 11 am, about two hours late from the scheduled time, concluded around 2.15 p.m., sources said.

Rear Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Navy Commander and the Head of three armed forces, Sri Lanka Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda,, Air Force Commander Donald Perera, Inspector General of Police Mr.Chandra Fernando and regional and district level army, navy and police top officials participated, sources said

Mr.Jayantha Wijesekara, JVP parliamentarian of the Trincomalee district participated in the discussion. The other three parliamentarians including Vanni Bunker Tiger Tails of the district did not participate.

Buddhist priests and Mr.Keerthi Priyalal, Secretary of the Three Wheelers’ Association, which was responsible for the erection of the statue, did not attend the function, sources said.

Other participants were Brammasiri S.Ravichchandrakurkkal, Sri La Sri Sunthara Thesigar and Siva Sri Vikneswara Kurukkal of Hindu community, Mr.M.L.Jainulabdeen, Mr.Munsoor and another from the Muslim community and Rev.Fr.George Dissanayake and Rev Fr. Annathas of Christian community, Attorney-at-Law Mr.K.Sivapalan and Mr.T.Thavasilingam, Chairman of the Trincomalee District NGOs Consortium and Mr.V.Vigneswaran, Mr.A.S.Gunaratnam and S.Gowrimuhunthan of the TDTPF, sources said.

Religious dignitaries and representatives of Tamil civil groups said Tamils are not against Buddhism and they revere Lord Buddha. They are against the manner the statue was erected with a hidden agenda and in a place, which is surrounded by fish market, meat stalls, and wine stores. “We will be glad to participate in the function if the Buddha statue is removed and erected in an alternative suitable location,” said the representatives.

Then on Sunday (22nd) Senior commanders of Sri Lanka’s security forces met with President Chandrika Kumaratunga to discuss the communal tension in Trincomalee, officials said. The Defense Secretary, the three Service Commanders and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had visited the Trincomalee district Saturday at the request of the President and briefed her on the civil unrest there.

The special District Committees set up three years ago were reactivated by the commanders to monitor and report on the situation in the area.

The committees, set up in 2002 amidst violence against the Muslim community were then led by heads of Sri Lankan security services in the area and included senior police personnel, local government authorities, religious leaders, civil society leaders and representatives of political parties, according to an official statement by the President’s office.

But after all this the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples’ Forum (TDTPF) suspended the Hartal (General shutdown) as Trincomalee town Sunday (22nd) struggled towards normalcy after tension-filled five days triggered by the erection of controversial Buddha statue. As Trincomalee residents await the final decision from Sri Lanka’s President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge on the statue removal issue, the temporary normally facilitates the Buddhists in the east port town to observe Vesak celebration Monday and Tuesday in a peaceful atmosphere, sources said.

All shops were opened Sunday after 5 days shut down since Tuesday till Saturday. People were seen rushing to buy their provisions and in queues in front of fuel depots run by Trincomaleee co-operative society to buy kerosene for domestic purposes and diesel and petrol for their vehicles Bus services resumed as usual, sources said.

In the meantime the security of the town has been beefed up with additional one thousand policemen and troops deployed in all main and strategic junctions and installations on the instruction of the Defence Ministry, sources said.

Heads of three armed forces and the Inspector General of Police led by Major General Asoka Jayawardene, Defence Ministry Secretary Sunday afternoon met with the President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and briefed her about the ground situation in Trincomalee and the discussion they had had with local religious and community leaders regarding the controversial Buddha statue issue, sources said.

Buddhist monks and representatives of Sinhala civil group, which was responsible for the erection of the controversial Buddha statue, boycotted the discussion held in the Trincomalee naval Headquarters Saturday morning.

Leaders of Tamil civil groups and TDTPF participated in the discussion presided by Major General Asoka Jayawardene. However the delegation led by Major General Asoka Jayawardene later on the same day met with a group of Buddhist priests at Jayasumanaramya Vihare in Trincomalee and obtained their views regarding the demand put forward by TDTPF to remove the Buddha statue.

When all this happen in one side, in the other side the restless ruthless Vanni Bunker Tiger Barbarians they continue their work shot & killed the former Chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council Mr.Periyapodi Suriyamoorthy, on Wednesday (18th) night around 9.30 p.m.

Immediately he was admitted to the Trincomalee General Hospital and later died on Wednesday early morning around 5.30 a.m. succumbed to gunshot injuries in the Colombo national hospital exactly after a week he was shot by Vanni Bunker Tigers in his Trincomalee residence, sources said.

The incident took place when he was at his residence along Vihare Road, close to Trincomalee Police Headquarters and the bungalow of the Trincomalee Magistrate, police said.

Mr.Suriyamoorthy sustained injuries in his abdomen and seriously wounded was admitted to the intensive care ward in Trincomalee later he was shifted to operating theatre.

And the same day he was airlifted to Colombo, Thursday morning as his condition became critical, Mr. Suriyamoorthy underwent an emergency operation in Colombo general hospital, sources said.

Today Mr.Periyapodi Suriyamoorthy, passed away after a week with regaining sense, sources said.

He was 56 and father of five children. He was born in Alvai in Vadamaradchchi division in Jaffna district in the year 1949.

He entered politics in the year 1989 contesting the first election to the North East Provincial Council (NEPC), which came into being with the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement. He was elected to the NEPC and became its first chairman. The NEPC was dissolved by the then Sri Lanka’s President Mr.R.Premadasa in 1990. Since then the NEPC is administered by the central government. Provincial Council system was introduced in the country to find a political solution to the Tamil national question through devolution of power, sources said.

Mr.Suriyamoorthy thereafter entered local politic by contesting the election held for the Trincomalee Urban Council in 1994. An independent group fielded by him polled highest votes in the election and he became the Chairman of the council. He continued as the chairman till the council was dissolved in the year 2000. Since then the UC is administered by a special administrator appointed by the central government.

During his tenure of his office, he constructed new public market at a cost of about seven million rupees in a new place located along the Power House Road in addition to the existing market of the council in front of the bus stand. However the central government did not allow the opening of the new market on representation made by Sinhalese vendors of the UC market, describing at as a “Tamil market”. From 1999 the new market remained unused.

One side Sinhala-Buddhist extremists other side Vanni Bunker Killing Tigers, in the middle innocent people and our Honorable Minister of Agricultural Products Marketing Development, Co-operative Development Hindu Affairs and Minister Assisting Education and Vocational Training Hindu cultural Minister watching all this.

“Vallka Thamilar Ottumai”