Journalist Roopan’s remains cremated in Araali

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 April 2010, 17:51 GMT]
Hundreds of people and media persons paid their last respects to the remains of Selvaratnam Roopan also known as ‘Sakthi Thasan’ and the sub-editor of Yarl Thinakural who passed away Sunday evening at Jaffna Teaching hospital at the age of thirty-two. The remains were taken in procession by the mourners to Poonaavoadai Hindu crematorium grounds in Vaddukkoadai. Vice-chancellor emeritus of Jaffna University, Prof. Pon. Balsuntharampillai, was among the many hundreds who paid their last respects to Roopan’s remains.

Roopan had been in the forefront in rescuing thousands of people caught in the clashes in Ma’ndaitheevu in the islets of Jaffna in 2006 and in admitting the injured among them in the hospitals in Jaffna. Roopan rendered great service by writing articles in Yarl Thinakural creating political awareness among the people of Jaffna peninsula under his pseudonym ‘Sakthi Thaasan’.

Roopan was a native of Central Araali in Vaddukkoadai and had served in Yarl Thinakural for a long time as its sub-editor.

He was one of the editorial team of Yarl Thinakural which worked hard in bringing out the daily without delay braving the risks of working during continuously imposed curfew hours.



The articles he wrote enlightening the people of Tamil Nationalism and political awareness as Sakthi Thasan were very much welcomed by the readers.

Remaining a bachelor he was an indefatigable journalist fully dedicated to his vocation.

Roopan was well-known for his unswerving principles and his readiness to help people in distress even at the risk of his own life as a journalist with a cause.

Chronology: