Trincomalee: A symbolic hunger strike was held on Saturday (26) in front of the Sivan Temple in Trincomalee, with participants questioning whether the government had fulfilled the commitments made during the presidential election campaign.
The protest was organised by Trincomalee-based social activist Unnaviratha Vendhan, who said the demonstration aimed to draw attention to seven key demands and urge the government to take concrete action.
During the hunger strike, protesters questioned the government’s progress on several issues, including the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the release of political prisoners, and the conduct of a comprehensive investigation into the recovery of more than 500 skeletal remains from the Chemmani mass grave.
They also called for stronger action against illegal fishing practices, including the use of explosives and prohibited purse seine (“surukku”) nets, and urged authorities to expedite the investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
In addition, the demonstrators demanded that Provincial Council elections be held in all provinces, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and called for intensified efforts to eradicate narcotics across the country.
The organisers said the symbolic hunger strike was intended to remind the government of the promises made to the public and to press for meaningful action on issues they said remain unresolved.
