Tamil Guardian@TamilGuardian
🚨 Extremists attempt to storm May 18 remembrance in Colombo, burn Prabhakaran portrait
A group of Sinhala Buddhist extremists attempted to disrupt a peaceful remembrance event to mourn "war victims" held at Wellawatte beach in Colombo on Monday, with participants subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse before Sri Lankan police intervened to prevent violence.
The remembrance event, organised to honour civilians killed during the final phase of the armed conflict, saw participants light memorial flames and pay floral tributes in memory of those who were massacred during the war’s closing stages.
Witnesses stated that a group led by a Sinhala Buddhist monk arrived from the nearby main road area and attempted to charge towards the gathering by crossing the railway tracks adjacent to the beach venue.
The group went on to shout racist slogans and directe obscene verbal abuse at Tamil attendees, including women and children present at the event. Several witnesses further stated that members of the group accused mourners of “supporting terrorism” and claimed that those killed in Mullivaikkal were “all terrorists”.
Witnesses also stated that a Christian father attending the event, was nearly assaulted during the commotion before several attendees intervened to protect him.
The extremist group later burned a photograph of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran while continuing to accuse participants of commemorating "terrorism".
📹 via Lankasri News
