Hundreds of Tamils were blocked from delivering a petition in Vavuniya on Saturday, marking the International Day of the Disappeared.
Relatives of disappeared from across the Northeast attended an event at Vavuniya Urban Council, before a protest march towards the Government Agent offices at Vavuniya Kachcheri but police stopped the protestors from proceeding, saying that they did not have permission, sources at the scene told the Tamil Guardian.
The protestors, many of whom were holding pictures of their relatives, sat in the road, shouting slogans against President Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan government.
Organisers decided to hand the petition to TNA MP Maavai Senathirajah and disperse the crowds, due to concerns for the safety of the people.
The protest was attended by TNA MPs Sivasakthi Ananthan, Vino Noharathalingam, Maavai Senathirajah, MA Sumanthiran, and S Saravanabhavan. NPC officials I Inthirarajah, M Thiyagarajah, Ananthy Sasitharan, T Ravikaran and C Sivamohan were also in attendance.
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