Hartal in Puttalam against activist death

A hartal is being held in Sri Lanka’s North Western town of Puttalam against the death of human rights activist Pattani Razeek whose body was found 17 months after his abduction in the East.

The hartal had commenced in the Puttalam town soon after Razeek’s funeral got underway.

All the shops in the Puttalam town and nearby areas have been shut and transport has also come to a standstill in the area due to the protest.

Razik was an active non-governmental organisation worker based in Puttalam and travelled widely carrying out relief work for victims of the conflict as well as those hit by the tsunami.

Razeek was abducted by an unidentified group in February 2010 in Polonnaruwa, in the North Central Province. His highly decomposed body was discovered on Thursday (28) under a partially built house in the Valachchenai in the Eastern Province.

The United Nations on Friday called for a speedy investigation and prosecution into the murder of Razeek. (www.colombopage.com)