A complaint has been filed with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) against 16 officers of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A Sumanthiran’s security detail and several security force members over the incident which occurred on August 6 at the counting center located in the Jaffna Central College. The complaint (HRC/JA/159/2020) has been filed by a person identified as Selvaratnam Thanupan of Kattuwan West, Tellipalai, a representative of a Northern Tamil political party. The complaint has been submitted to the HRCSL office in Jaffna.
The complainant has claimed that the human rights of those gathered there for a peaceful protest were violated by the officers who had attacked them on the behest of the TNA MP. He has accused the 16 officers of physically assaulting the protestors at the counting center in violation of their rights. He has requested the HRCSL to carry out an immediate inquiry on the incident. According to sources, a second complaint by a representative of yet another Northern party has also been filed regarding the same matter.
On August 6, a tense situation was reported at the counting center located on the Jaffna Central College premises when supporters of TNA candidate Sasikala Raviraj launched a protest casting preferential vote-rigging allegations against several other TNA MPs including M.A Sumanthiran. Police and the Special Task Force were called in to disperse the protestors.
