Jaffna MP Angajan joins condemnation in university monument controversy

COLOMBO: Jaffna MP Angajan Ramanathan, who is loyal to the Sri Lankan government, has condemned removal of ‘war victims’ memorial at Jaffna University.

His remarks on Twitter came as calls grew from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on the New Delhi-based federal government to condemn the demolition.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and DMK President M K Stalin, who termed the incident as a big shock.

In his Twitter post, Angajan Ramanathan said: “Everyone should respect the feelings & sentiments of our people beyond permissions.”

He added: “I am deeply saddened & strongly condemn removal of ‘war victims’ memorial at Jaffna University is common to all who lost lives in the final war beyond racial and religious differences.

The MP is also the deputy chairman of committees in Parliament.

The university’s vice chancellor has earlier claimed that he was under pressure from Sri Lanka’s defense and intelligence structures to remove the monument, as well as others on the campus.