A hartal campaign has been launched across Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces demanding justice for the death of a youth in the Muttyayankattu area of Mullaitivu, along with several other demands.
The call for the hartal was initiated by several political groups, including the Ilangai Tamil Arasu Katchi Party. However, reports indicate that government institutions and schools in the Northern Province are functioning as usual despite the campaign.
While some trade associations have extended their support to the hartal, others have publicly announced that they will not participate.
Meanwhile, business establishments, public markets, private institutions, and several other places in parts of the Batticaloa district remained closed today (18). Despite the disruption to daily life in certain areas, vehicular movement across the region continues without interruption.
According to our correspondent, shops in predominantly Muslim areas have remained open, while shops in Tamil-majority areas, including Batticaloa, Chengaladi, Ariyampathi, Valachchenai, and Kokkatticholai, were observed to be closed.
Security has been tightened in areas where the hartal is being observed, with both the army and police deployed in key towns.
