Batticaloa shuts down for Kousalyan, funeral Thursday

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 February 2005, 09:33 GMT]
A total shutdown was observed in the Batticaloa district and the coastal areas of the Amparai district Wednesday to mourn the death of Mr. Kousalyan. LTTE officials in Batticaloa said that his funeral would take place Thursday afternoon and that he would be buried at the martyr’s memorial in Thandiyadi, about ten kilometers west Batticaloa town. Muslim towns in the region were also shutdown. Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE’s political division and Col. Bhanu, commander of the LTTE’s military forces in Batticaloa-Amparai are expected to arrive in the eastern district Wednesday afternoon.

“The Sinhala regime is behind this heinous killing. It is trying to provoke a war to stay in power”, said Tamil National Alliance MP, Mr. S. Jeyanadamoorthy speaking at Palugamam where the slain LTTE leader’s body was taken Wednesday morning.

“Kousalyan was loved by everyone here regardless of their political differences. The people will not forget his service when the Tsunami hit the east. Cowardly Sinhala racists are having recourse to assassinations”, said TNA MP Mr. P. Ariyanethiran when the slain LTTE leader’s body was taken to Kokkaddicholai.

Mr. Kousalyan’s body was taken to Kalmunai and Thirukkovil Wednesday for the public to pay their last respects to the LTTE’s political division leader for the Batticaloa-Amparai District.

Large crowds waited along the way in the main Tamil villages on the southeast coast to see the cortege.

Mr. Jeyanandamoorthy, MP and several civil society leaders in the east accompanied the cortege to Thirukkovil, 76 kilometres south of Batticaloa.