Commemorating victims of war allowed, LTTE not allowed - Govt

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene says that the government has no issue with the commemoration of victims of Sri Lanka’s war but any attempts to commemorate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will not be allowed. 

“The LTTE is a terrorist group recognized by the world. We have no problem with the commemoration of those who perished during the war. I think that is a tradition in the world.” 

“However, we will not allow any LTTE flags or commemoration of the LTTE organization. That has been banned,” he told reporters in Colombo. 

“We have notified the police and the armed forces. As a government we will not allow any commemoration of the LTTE.”  

Replying to a question from a journalist regarding State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran’s plans to build a monument in Vellamullivaikal, the State Minister reiterated that: “as a government we will not allow the erecting of any monument related to the LTTE. That is banned.”  

“We do not know what her idea is, she has not talked to us about it. But we have no problem with a monument built on behalf of those who lost their lives during the war in the area,” he said.