Reports from Sri Lanka said protests by dozens of Tamil people outside the University of Jaffna erupted after the Mullivaikkal memorial monument located on the campus of the varsity was bulldozed.

Even as protesters demanded to hold talks with the University Vice-Chancellor, Sri Lankan troops blocked the entrance of the college. The memorial was inaugurated in 2019 and was dedicated to the thousands of Tamil people killed by Sri Lankan troops in final phase of the ethnic war at Mullivaikkal. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam took to Twitter to strongly condemn it. Palaniswami expressed big shock, while Panneerselvam expressed shock. “This violent act is unacceptable and strongly condemnable,” Panneerselvam said.

DMK president MK Stalin in a tweet said the shocking incident has taken place at a time when External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar returned after his official visit to Sri Lanka.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should keep this in mind that the incident took place soon after the return of the minister and come forward to strongly condemn it. This is the expectation of the Tamils across the world,” he added.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko announced a protest demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan embassy in the city next week, while Naam Tamizhar party founder and director Seeman also strongly condemned the demolition.

AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran said it was improper to play with the sentiments of the Tamils and that the memoirs of the final phase of the war and the historic symbols of Tamils could not be removed by such acts.