Independence day in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 February 1999, 00:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Independence Day was observed at the Jaffna Kachcheri in the morning of February 4. The Government Agent (GA), Mr.S. Shanmuganathan hoisted the Sri Lankan national flag while a group of students from Vembadi Girls' School sang the national anthem.

The Jaffna town was deserted said sources.

A few autorickshaws that were seen on the streets carried the Lion flag which had been given to them yesterday by SLA soldiers.

The chief political organiser in Jaffna of the People’s Liberation Organisation f Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) S..Kirupairajah wrote to the Commissioner of Elections, Mr.Dayananda Dissanayaka today that he should either take steps to provide adequate security for the members of the local government bodies in Jaffna or dissolve the Municipal council, Urban councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

He points out in his letter that several members of the local government bodies have been shot dead in the peninsula in recent times.

Kirupairajah's letter has been sent amidst apprehension in Jaffna political circles that PLOTE's threat to hit back for the deaths of its members and suspected reprisal killings might lead to more assassinations and counter assassinations in the peninsula.