NPC warns catastrophic impact of Anojan death sentence and Thileepan removal by state

The National Peace Council has expressed concern over the implications of the death sentence for Sri Lankan citizen Sivarasa Anojan and the removal of the Thileepan statue in Jaffna. The NPC urges all stakeholders to prevent these events from escalating into community-wide grievances. The NPC welcomes the government's efforts in Anojan's case and encourages unity among Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian leaders to express solidarity.

The organization stresses that expressing mercy for Anojan should not be seen as against any one religion. The NPC also calls for a rejection of attempts to link the Anojan case with anti-Muslim sentiment or collective blame. The Thileepan statue, which was removed by police, holds deep significance for many Tamils who remember him as a peaceful protestor who died on September 26, 1987.

The NPC notes that the Office for Reparations Act provides a framework for memorialization, and the government should explore appropriate ways to commemorate Thileepan without violating the law. The NPC believes that Sri Lanka has an opportunity to learn from its past and demonstrate true peacebuilding by addressing difficult issues without causing communal divisions.