Thileepan statue removal in Jaffna sparks protests and government defense

Sri Lankan police removed a statue of Rasaiah Parthipan, known as Thileepan, from the Thileepan Memorial Square in Nallur, Jaffna, on Sunday, September 27. The removal occurred following the 39th anniversary commemorations of Thileepan’s death, which was caused by a hunger strike in 1987.

Government Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa defended the action, stating that the police acted following reports made to a local court. He explained that because the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a prohibited group, national laws do not permit the promotion of banned outfits, including their symbols or figures. Jayatissa emphasized that the government will not tolerate actions intended to cause racial tension.

In contrast, Tamil political figures and relatives of the disappeared have condemned the move. They organized protests across eight districts in the North and East, demanding the statue be returned to its original location. Critics argue the removal infringes upon the rights of the Tamil community to memorialize their history and raises significant questions regarding reconciliation and freedom of expression in post-war Sri Lanka.