Women's Day marked in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 March 1999, 23:51 GMT]
Several hundred Tamil women from various places of the Northeast of the island participated in a cultural procession and a rally in Trincomalee today, organised to celebrate International Women's Day.

The rally, which began near the Sivan temple at 10 a.m. proceeded along Harbour View road, Main road, Rajavarathoyam road, Moore Street, Green road, Power House road and Post Office road and ended at Post Office Junction.

The participants shouted slogans such as "We will live with all our rights on our own soil", "We want to live without any fear" etc.

A large cut-out of a military boot was carried on a tractor in the procession, symbolising discrimination of women. The participants tore it to pieces at the end of the procession.

The procession arrived at the Urban Council building, and several other women who had been waiting with lit torches received the demonstrators. Later, a public rally was held at the Council auditorium.

Women from Mannar, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trinomalee districts spoke at the rally describing the various hardships they faced.

A few Sri Lankan Army personnel were also present at the auditorium to watch the rally.

A handbill distributed by the organisers called for the immediate cessation of the war.

"The root causes for the war have to be identified and solution must be found to them. Any other solutions would not lead to cessation of war," the handbill said.