The general secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, protesting against the increase in the cost of living to the government, demanded a verdict that basic human rights were violated by the water and tear gas attacks by the police on the peaceful demonstration held by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya in the Kurunduwatta police domain. Maddumabandara and SJB former Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman filed a fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court today (29).
Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, Commander of Police Special Task Force Varuna Jayasundara, Station OICs of Kurunduwatta, Fort and Kollupitiya police stations and others have been named as those responsible.
The petitioners claim that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya organized a peaceful demonstration in Vihara Maha Devi Park on January 30 last year to protest against the increase in the cost of living. The petition states that the Colombo Magistrate’s Court had rejected a request made by the Kurunduwatta Police to issue an order to prevent the agitation process.
The petition has also alleged that the police used tear gas and water cannons arbitrarily and illegally against the peaceful protest without any reasonable reason.
The petitioners further request the Supreme Court to rule that the basic human rights including the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the fundamental right to assembly, which are guaranteed by the constitution, have been violated by these police officers.
Source: aruna
