Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath
Encyclopedia
Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath (born February 22, 1951)
is a Sri Lankan Tamil academic and the Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka
. He disappeared
after attending a conference on December 15, 2006 in a high-security zone in Colombo
and was last seen leaving the conference after receiving a telephone call.
His current whereabouts are unknown
and his family have claimed that they believe that he has been killed.
since its inception but he had to give his resignation following threats and the kidnapping of Dean Dr. K. Balasukumar to the University Grants Commission
(UGC) Chairman. However, the UGC asked him to work from the capital, Colombo
. He moved to Colombo and lived there with his daughter. According to his son-in-law, M. Malaravan:
Prior to his disappearance, Raveendranath was attending the annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science at Vidya Mandiraya, which is situated in a high security zone in Colombo
. He was last seen leaving the session after receiving a phone call.
Local media have reported that there are allegations that gunmen belonging to the paramilitary
organisation Tamil Makkal Viduthalia Pulikal (TMVP) have kidnapped him.
issued an appeal expressing concern
.
Robert J. Quinn Director Scholars at Risk
Network issued an appeal to president Mahinda Rajapakse
. The staff of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka went on strike demanding his release.
(CID) investigation revealed that the initial threats to him came from an armed group suspected to be the TMVP. Raveendranath's driver has been detained and it is alleged that he had received telephone calls from people "believed to be" members of the TMVP. His kidnapping is seen as part of series of abductions of Tamils and are part of the "era of terror" abductions by death squads and pro government militias which were responsible for the disappearances of thousands of people since the 1980s. Human rights watch states majority of disappearances involve Sri Lankan security forces and paramilitary groups like the TMVP led by Karuna
and the government response has been inadequate.
A member of the Civil Monitoring Committee on Extra Judicial Killings, Abductions and Disappearances, Mano Ganeshan said that
is a Sri Lankan Tamil academic and the Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka
Eastern University of Sri Lanka
The Eastern University,Sri Lanka is located in Vantarumoolai, Batticaloa in the eastern province of Sri Lanka.The university has its another campus in Trincomalee.-Academics:*Faculties*Faculty of Agriculture.*Faculty of Art & Culture....
. He disappeared
Missing person
A missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....
after attending a conference on December 15, 2006 in a high-security zone in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and was last seen leaving the conference after receiving a telephone call.
His current whereabouts are unknown
and his family have claimed that they believe that he has been killed.
Disappearance
Raveendranath had been with the Eastern University of Sri LankaEastern University of Sri Lanka
The Eastern University,Sri Lanka is located in Vantarumoolai, Batticaloa in the eastern province of Sri Lanka.The university has its another campus in Trincomalee.-Academics:*Faculties*Faculty of Agriculture.*Faculty of Art & Culture....
since its inception but he had to give his resignation following threats and the kidnapping of Dean Dr. K. Balasukumar to the University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)
The University Grants Commission is the body responsible for funding most of the State Universities in Sri Lanka, and operates within the frame work of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, itself established in 1979. A public organization, established under the Parliament Act No 16 of 1978...
(UGC) Chairman. However, the UGC asked him to work from the capital, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. He moved to Colombo and lived there with his daughter. According to his son-in-law, M. Malaravan:
Prior to his disappearance, Raveendranath was attending the annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science at Vidya Mandiraya, which is situated in a high security zone in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. He was last seen leaving the session after receiving a phone call.
Local media have reported that there are allegations that gunmen belonging to the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisation Tamil Makkal Viduthalia Pulikal (TMVP) have kidnapped him.
Reactions
Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
issued an appeal expressing concern
.
Robert J. Quinn Director Scholars at Risk
Scholars At Risk
Scholars at Risk is a U.S.-based international network of academic institutions organized to support and defend the principles of academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars around the world....
Network issued an appeal to president Mahinda Rajapakse
. The staff of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka went on strike demanding his release.
Government investigation
The Criminal Investigation DepartmentCriminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
(CID) investigation revealed that the initial threats to him came from an armed group suspected to be the TMVP. Raveendranath's driver has been detained and it is alleged that he had received telephone calls from people "believed to be" members of the TMVP. His kidnapping is seen as part of series of abductions of Tamils and are part of the "era of terror" abductions by death squads and pro government militias which were responsible for the disappearances of thousands of people since the 1980s. Human rights watch states majority of disappearances involve Sri Lankan security forces and paramilitary groups like the TMVP led by Karuna
Colonel Karuna
Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan is a Sri Lankan politician and former militant. After fighting for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for over 20 years, he rose to prominence as the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal , a breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers.After giving up arms and...
and the government response has been inadequate.
A member of the Civil Monitoring Committee on Extra Judicial Killings, Abductions and Disappearances, Mano Ganeshan said that