The Indian visa of Dr Ellyn Sue Shander, a US-based humanitarian worker and a strong critic of Sri Lankan government, was cancelled by the Indian mission at New York, her Indian host M. Natarajan alleged.

The Stanford-based American woman activist was scheduled to tour India from September 13 and deliver talks on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka.The India mission in New York informed Ms Shander on Thursday about the cancellation of her visa.

Natarajan said that the Chennai police had denied permission to conduct an indoor meeting with Shander as the guest on September 16.

"We have moved the Madras High Court against denial of permission to conduct indoor meetings on the human rights violations in Sri Lanka. The writ petition would be heard on Monday," he said. Shander was scheduled to address the Delhi Tamil Sangam in the national capital on September 20 along with MDMK General Secretary Vaiko.