No restrictions on commemorating those killed in the war: Minister Ananda Wijepala clarifies; says activities promoting LTTE will not be permitted

09-Nov-2026

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Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has said there are no restrictions on remembering relatives who lost their lives during the war or lighting lamps in their memory.

However, he stressed that the Government would never permit activities intended to promote the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or the use of symbols associated with the organisation.

He made these remarks during an interview with a private media organisation.

Elaborating further, he said:

There has been no change in the Government's position on commemorative events. Under the Gazette notification issued in 2011, the use of symbols belonging to banned organisations is prohibited, and such activities are illegal.

However, no one is prevented from remembering relatives, including their mothers, fathers and children, who lost their lives in the war, or from lighting lamps in their memory.

The Government's intention is not to prohibit Tamil commemorative events. Permission cannot be granted only for activities that unlawfully promote the LTTE.

Certain political groups are attempting to exploit this issue to create ethnic tensions between Tamil and Sinhala communities.

The same law will apply to everyone, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences. Everyone, whether from the North, East or South, has the right to remember deceased relatives.

A report has recently been submitted to court regarding the commemoration of Thileepan in Nallur. Steps are being taken to obtain explanations from the parties concerned and submit them to court again, he said.