The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris has responded to the claims made by the Acting Defence Minister on seeking six hour prior approval for protests or demonstrations.
Responding to the acting Minister of Defence saying that the Police should be notified and approval must be obtained from local Police six hours before holding a protest, the President ofthe Bar Association of Sri Lanka noted that it was not what the Supreme Court held in the case of Vivienne Goonewardene v Hector Perera as per the judgment of Justice J.F.A. Soza in 1983.
He added that accordingly. there was no legal basis for Sub-Inspector Ganeshananthan’s order to the processionists to disperse in the said matter in 1983.
The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris said that the absence of a permit did not make the continuance of the procession an offence or any of the processionists liable to arrest.
He added that under Article 14(l)(b) of the Constitution the freedom of assembly is a fundamental right guaranteed to all citizens.