‘Pottuvil to Polikandi’ rally reaches Trincomalee: Muslims join in mass
A massive attention-drawing rally by the Tamil people against the government’s repression “from Pottuvil to Polikandi” has entered Trincomalee in its second day today.
The rally reached Kumarapuram in Trincomalee at 4.30pm. Tributes were paid to the victims of the 1996 massacre at Kumarapuram by the Sri Lankan military. Although the rally was scheduled to reach Mullaitivu today, it ended in the city of Trincomalee. The rally will reach Mullaitivu tomorrow and move to Kilinochchi.
A large number of Muslims also joined the rally when the rally which started from Thalanguda in Batticaloa and reached Oddamavadi town where a large number of Muslims live.
The rally which started yesterday in Pottuvil in Ampara district commenced its 2nd day from Thalanguda in Batticaloa district today and entered Ottamawadi through Arayambathi, Kattankudi, Batticaloa, Eravur, Chengaladi and Valaichenai. When the rally reached Ottamawadi, a large number of Muslims, led by MSS Amir Ali, a former state minister and chairperson of the All Ceylon People’s Congress, also attended.
The following slogans were raised jointly by Tamil and Muslim people during the rally: Where are our relatives, Do not burn the bodies of Muslims, we want our land, we want justice, we want our rights, UN must intervene, North and East is our Homeland and give a salary increase of a thousand rupees to upcountry Tamils.
Meanwhile, the police are warning the people to disperse attending the rally. But despite the police loudspeaker announcements, large numbers of people attended the rally.
