Kilinochchi Principals Interrogated By TID Over A Book Of Poems Written On The War

September 4, 2014 

Principals from several schools located in Kilinochchi had been summoned and interrogated by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID)  over a book of poems written on the war, that each school had received by post several days ago.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence

The collection of poems that had been compiled into a book titled ‘Uyir Padivugal’ had been authored by a Catholic priest based on the events that occurred during the war in 2009. About 85 copies of the book had been sent through post to several schools in the North by TNA MP Sivaganam Sritharan. The Principals of some of the schools to which this book had been posted, had been interrogated by the TID who had demanded to know how they received the book and what they planned to do with it.

According to concerned teacher unions, among the schools that have been targeted for receiving this book by the TID are Vattakatchchi South Maha Vidyalaya and Ramanadan Government Mix School.

Meanwhile, the priest who had authored the book has also reportedly been interrogated by the TID earlier this week.

Education professionals have condemned the interrogations of principals, pointing out it is a violation of the freedom of expression and a hindrance and a threat levelled against the right to appreciate a piece of literature.