Sri Lanka warns to take actions over Tamil rebels commemorations

The Sri Lanka police, on Thursday, warned to take legal action against anyone publicly supporting the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The warning came as some groups in the Tamil dominated north of the country prepared to commemorate the life of slain Tamil Tiger leader Vellupillai Prabakaran.

Prabakaran was killed in 2009 during the final stage of a 30-year bitter conflict which saw thousands killed on both sides.

The Tamil Tigers remain a banned outfit in Sri Lanka but some groups have in past held events in support of the rebels despite the ban.

Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said that since the Tamil Tigers are still banned in Sri Lanka, public events cannot be held in support of its leaders or the organization.

Sri Lanka's Northern Provincial Council member M.K. Sivajilingham said that the public have been urged to commemorate slain Tamil Tiger members on Friday to mark an annual commemoration week for the rebels.

He said that anyone has a right to commemorate those killed during the war even if they are Tamil Tiger members.

Sivajilingham however said that he has urged the public to commemorate the Tamils killed during the war in the North and East in a peaceful manner.

The police spokesman however said that if events are held in support of the Tamil Tigers then strict legal action will be taken.

He said that the police have already removed some posters which appeared in the north supporting the rebels. Endit