Jaffna Mayor V. Manivannan was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) after he had deployed a new unit clad in uniform similar to the one worn by the LTTE “police unit” during the war.
Police Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana said that five individuals wearing uniforms similar to that worn by the LTTE “police unit” had been deployed for Jaffna Municipal Council work.
“A few days ago five persons clad in uniform had been deployed to the Jaffna Town in order to perform duties in respect of the Municipal Council and the Jaffna Police had received information regarding these five persons and the uniforms they were dressed in.
The uniform worn by these five persons was similar to the uniforms worn by the LTTE “Police Unit” during the war,” he added.
The Jaffna Police and the TID initiated investigations on instructions of the Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral Dr. Sarath Weerasekara. The statements of the Municipal Commissioner and others attached to the Municipal Council had also been recorded. Accordingly, the Police Spokesman said it had been revealed that the Jaffna Mayor is the person who had granted permission to recruit these five persons and the Jaffna Mayor himself had issued the uniforms.
“Thereafter, the Jaffna Police had recorded other statements regarding the incident and last morning the Jaffna Police had arrested Jaffna Mayor Vishwalingam Manivannan in connection with the incident under the laws of the PTA and subsequent Gazette notification published on August 11th, 2011. According to the Gazette notification promulgated in terms of the provisions of the PTA No. 48 of 1979, the LTTE is a proscribed organization and in addition to that the uniforms and other symbols of the LTTE are prohibited and no one can promote the LTTE or their ideology,” DIG Ajith Rohana said. The TID and the Jaffna Police are conducting investigations under the provisions of the PTA.
