Sumanthiran Changes Hartal Date – Call for Shutdown on August 18

14-Aug-2025

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M.A. Sumanthiran, General Secretary of ITAK, has announced a change in the date of the planned hartal in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, which was originally set for August 15 to protest the heavy military presence in these regions. 

The change was made following consultations with the Bishop of Mannar Diocese to avoid clashing with the Mannar Madhu Church festival, and also in consideration of the Nallur Murugan Temple festival. The hartal will now be held on August 18.

Sumanthiran had earlier invited all sectors to join the protest, a call that was supported by the Tamil Progressive Alliance and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress. 

He had also requested that the hartal should not disrupt religious events. 

The revised date now accommodates both festivals, and he urged everyone to support the protest and completely shut down the North and East to express their opposition.