Thousands of people from Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority areas culminated in Jaffna on Sunday, ending a five-day rally to assert the rights of Tamil and Muslim minorities. The rally, which began in Pothuvil in the eastern Ampara district last week, covered several towns along the way in the Eastern Province and the Vanni, before reaching Polikandy in Jaffna district. Over the last five days, police sought to prevent the rallies, local media reported, citing COVID-19 regulations. However, the masked participants carried on, pointing to other events marked by the government, that had proceeded, according to media reports. “The reason for this protest walk is to draw attention to the rights of the Tamil-speaking people that have been denied in this country,” Jaffna legislator M.A.

Source: The Hindu February 07, 2021 17:03 UTC