Unprecedented, violence- less and Complete Harthal demanding justice to Harishnevi : Routine life comes to a standstill

A complete Harthal was held in all districts condemning the horrible incident and demanding justice for the rape-murder of Vavuniya Vipulanantha College student Harishnevi (aged 13).All areas came to a standstill with people keeping indoors.

A pathetic silence dawned on Jaffna district with Teachers Associations, Traders unions, Private Bus owner’s union, Jaffna University community, Political parties and public Organizations rendered their complete support to the Harthal called to protest against the crimes committed on Harishnevi.  Life came to a standstill and roads deserted.

In Kilinochchi,  full harthal was held and although Government offices were opened number of people who went there to obtain services were very low. As students were not present schools did not function. But although essential and emergency service like pharmacies and eating houses were open, all other shops were closed, for the Harthal. Although government transport services were provided, private buses did not ply the roads and therefore the routine life there was affected heavily.

Although it was announced that the schools will not be closed for the harthal, as students were not present schools did not operate.In Multaitheevu, the shops were closed and the private buses did not engage in services, and the movement of people was highly restricted.

The private bus services in Mannar district were stopped as from 0600 a.m. in support of Harthal that was being held to condemn the atrocity committed on Harishnevi. The officers and people who used to travel to Manthai West DS division and Madhu DS division were put into much discomfort. However local and other districts’ long distance bus services operated.

On a call from the People’s Organisation against social violence, all Tamil and Muslim traders closed their establishments in support of the Harthal against the heinous crime committed against student Harishnevi.  In a context where the tri-wheelers, private buses and the Vavuniya Depot buses abstaining from services, buses brought from other districts provided limited services.  banks operated as usual but customers were found to much less and government offices

It was a notable thing that this harthal was held without any violence as if the whole North was mourning for the innocent student.