The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam encountered disruptions by the Army during a visit to Batticaloa last weekend.
He had been on his way to inquire into the takeover by the Sinhalese of grassland at Madavanai that was used for years by Tamil dairy farmers.
He was stopped at a newly-erected checkpoint at Mailaththamadu, and asked by a soldier about the purpose of his visit.
Strongly objecting to the Army’s involvement in civilian affairs without any police presence, Ponnambalam disregarded his questioning and proceeded on his way.
A video circulating in social media and given below shows the soldier expressing ignorance about who he was, to which the MP described himself as a ‘citizen’.
