Amongst opposition from several quarters, Viharathypathy’s remains cremated in Jaffna Esplanade
The remains of the former Viharathypathy of Jaffna Naga Vihare was cremated yesterday in the Jaffna Esplanade, amidst Muniyappar Temple, the memorial for people killed during Tamil Research Conference, Pannai market, Duraiyappah Stadium, Jaffna Fort and Weerasingham Hall, Jaffna.
The smoke emitted during this cremation was overlapped the Pannai Area. Several people including former Commander of SF- Jaffna and the Commander of the Army, Lt. Gen. Mahes Senanayake and the Northern Governor participated in this event.
Former Viharathypathy of Naga Vihare Jaffna breathed his last on 19th of this month after a spell of illness.
A plaint was filed in Jaffna Court requesting to ban the body being cremated at the Jaffna Esplanade citing the threat to public health as the cause, by Varatharajan Partheeban and Kamalavannman through their AAL, V.Manivannan. However Court rejected the application and refused to proclaim a ban after the Police submitted that the funeral procession had passed half the distance.
The cortege left Nagavihare with thousands of soldiers participating in it. Hospital Road was made one-way for the duration of the procession. The pier was lighted at 6.00 p.m. and continued to burn around three hours.
It is notable that former and current MPs and MPcs and public organization had expressed their condemnation for cremating the body in a public place close to a Hindu temple.
