Tamils in Jaffna took to the streets in protest against chief-of-defence- staff Gen. Shavendra Silva at a religious function at a Buddhist temple on March 18.
He was the chief guest at the relics placement at a Stupa at Sri Samiddi Sumana Vihara at Navatkuli.
Accusing him of genocide of Tamils, the protestors said Gen. Silva should not come to their area to establish a Sinhala Buddhist heritage there.
Carrying placards and shouting slogans, they staged their agitation on the road as a temple procession got underway.
The unveiling of the Stupa’s pinnacle took place with the participation of deputy chief of Malwatte Chapter, Ven. Dr. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Nayaka Thera and other monks.
TNPF M Selvaraja Gajendran said they opposed the Sinhala settlement with a Buddhist temple set up at Navatkuli.
Construction of the temple in question began after the end of the war in 2009, with its land handed over during the office of Sajith Premadasa as the housing and construction minister.
