A commemoration event honoring Thiyagi Thileepan in Trincomalee has sparked controversy as local authorities obtained an injunction order prohibiting the display of Thileepan's picture during the event. Thileepan, a former member of a banned terrorist organization in Sri Lanka, remains a contentious figure in the country's history.

The event, held to remember Thiyagi Thileepan, featured a notable deviation from previous commemorations. Instead of displaying Thileepan's picture, organizers placed an empty chair, symbolizing his absence. Attendees were encouraged to imagine the chair as a representation of Thileepan and pay their respects accordingly.

The decision to avoid displaying Thileepan's image stemmed from the injunction order issued by the Trincomalee police, citing his affiliation with a banned terrorist organization in Sri Lanka. This legal constraint led event organizers to adopt the symbolic gesture of an empty chair to circumvent potential legal repercussions.

Thiyagi Thileepan remains a controversial figure in Sri Lanka due to his role within the aforementioned banned organization. Commemorative events in his honor have consistently stirred debates and raised questions about the appropriate way to remember individuals associated with such groups.