Protest in Lanka supporting Rajini

Hundreds of people on Monday protested in Sri Lanka's Jaffna against Tamil Nadu politicians under whose pressure superstar Rajinikanth cancelled his visit to the island nation where he was scheduled to hand over houses to displaced ethnic Tamils.

Protestors belonging to different parties, including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), gathered near Jaffna's iconic Nallur Kovil. They held placards with slogans against the Tamil Nadu politicians.

On Saturday, Rajinikanth said he is cancelling his visit to Sri Lanka, where he was slated to unveil a free housing project for displaced Tamils.

However, he has asked leaders like Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol Thirumavalavan, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and Tamizhar Vazhvurimai Katchi's Velmurugan not to politicise his good intentions.

Lyca Productions has expressed sadness over the "negative environment" surrounding its charity programme involving Superstar Rajinikanth in Sri Lanka and denied links with the Rajapaksa family, as claimed by some outfits in Tamil Nadu.

It has also sent a legal notice to Tamizhar Vazhvurimai Katchi president Velmurugan. Meanwhile, Gnanam, the NGO owned by Lyca, called this debacle an outcome of politicians acting on lies and rumours.

A statement released by Gnanam stated that the event was scheduled to provide 150 homes to war torn Tamil families from Vavuniya. The houses were designed to contain two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.

"An event to hand over the deeds of the newly built houses to the 150 families was going to be held on April 9 in Jaffna. Superstar Rajinikanth was invited to take part in this momentous charity and he readily agreed," claimed the statement.