A court order was issued by the Jaffna Magistrate ,banning  protests in Jaffna during President Maithreepala Sirisena’s official visit to Jaffna today (14).

The court order was issued by Jaffna Magistrate S.Sadeeshkaran upon a request made by Jaffna Police.

Accordingly the order banned all protests in areas adjoining Jaffna Hindu College, Jaffna Court, Jaffna Governor’s office and areas visited by President.

Court has also issued orders to Northern Provincial Council member M.K Sivajilingam, Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) party leader Suresh Premachandran,All Ceylon Tamil Congress(ACTC) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam not to attend the protest.

However a protest is being led by Northern PC member M.K Sivajilingam, despite the court order,off Jaffa Hindu College, demanding the release of political prisoners.

Shops in the Northern Province decided to close their business establishments yesterday (13) as a mark of protest demanding the release of Tamil political prisoners.

The Harthal will be held under the joint co-operation by a number of Tamil political parties and civil organizations in North.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Tamil People’s Council (TPC) headed by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Vigneshwaran, also decided to extend their support to the Harthal.

The Hartal aimed to draw the attention of President Maithreepala Sirisena to Tamil prisoners’ issue who is due to pay an official visit to North today(14).

163 Tamil prisoners are detained in Anuradhapura prison at present, and they recently went on a hunger strike against their detention.