Ten instances of Mahaviru commemorations with LTTE logos this year: Govt.

• A few individuals, including a defeated NDF candidate arrested for sharing fake posts

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Ten Mahaviru Day commemorations out of 244 in the country  were found to have displayed LTTE flags and logos, Minister of Public  Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala told Parliament  yesterday. 

“There have been misinterpretations with regard to Mahaviru Day events as only 10 events out of the total of 244 have displayed  LTTE propaganda materials,” the Minister said making a special statement  in the House.    

He said investigations have revealed that a certain  political group is out to create ethnic unrest between North and South  by creating ethnic hatred. “This political group is engaged in uploading  fake posts on social media. Some of the videos that have been uploaded  are clips of Mahaviru commemorations held overseas a few years ago.    

The Minister said a few people have been arrested for  uploading fake posts on social media, which include a defeated candidate  from the New Democratic Front.  

He informed the House that police have filed cases against  those who held Mahaviru days in Kilinochchi, Point-Pedro and Jaffna  Magistrate courts.   

“Our stand is that families can hold ceremonies to  commemorate their deceased relatives but they cannot exhibit LTTE flags  or logos as it is a banned organisation. This is what I clearly said at a  meeting, but it was misquoted by one media institution. A complaint has  been lodged against this institution with the CID and an inquiry is  being conducted,” he said. 

The Minister recalled that the people in this country had  given a mandate to end ethnic and religious hatred and everyone should  respect this fact.