COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Dayasiri Jayasekara, an opposition lawmaker, challenged the government in Parliament on Tuesday over commemorations for Thileepan, a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who died on a hunger strike in 1987, asking why such events were permitted while the separatist group remains banned in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Jayasekara, who represents Kurunegala District for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, put the question to Aruna Jayasekara, the deputy minister of defense, during the chamber’s session for oral questions.
"Given that the L.T.T.E. is banned in Sri Lanka, how can a commemoration for Thileepan be held?" the opposition lawmaker asked. "What is the government's position on this?"
The exchange followed a dispute over a memorial to Thileepan in Jaffna. Mr. Jayasekara told Parliament that a statue of Thileepan had been put up and later taken down, and that its removal had prompted protests.
Thileepan, whose birth name was Rasaiah Parthipan, was a political leader of the Tamil Tigers in Jaffna. He died in September 1987 after refusing food and water for 12 days in protest against the Indian government, whose peacekeeping forces had arrived on the island that year. Sections of the Tamil community have marked his death every year since, and the observances have periodically drawn objections from politicians and the security forces because of his ties to the group.
Mr. Jayasekara said in Parliament that although Thileepan died on a hunger strike, the Tigers later honored him as a fighter and gave him the posthumous rank of colonel.
He also criticized lawmakers who have attended the commemorations, noting that members of Parliament take an oath under the Constitution pledging not to support the creation of a separate state within Sri Lanka.
"Some members of Parliament have participated in Thileepan commemoration events," he said. "Such activities could pose a threat to national security."
Mr. Jayasekara said his objections were directed at the commemorations and not at Sri Lanka's minority communities.
"I have never acted against the Tamil or Muslim people of this country," he said. "I have never promoted racism, and I will continue to act in the same manner." He added that he remained committed to allowing Tamil-speaking people to "live freely."
