Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis today (03) rejected a request by the Kuruduwatta Police to issue an order prohibiting the protest movement to be carried out by the union activists, including the Inter-University Student Union.
For the 75th Independence Commemoration, the state ceremony in which the public including the President and the Prime Minister will participate is scheduled to be held tomorrow (04) at the Galle face Square and therefore a prohibitory order be issued in terms of Section 106 (01) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, prohibiting the protest to be held by these protestors. The police made a request from the courts.
Stating that Article 14 of the Constitution gives the public the freedom to assemble and express their views as well as to live wherever they like, the magistrate ordered the police to act in accordance with the powers of the Penal Code as well as the Police Ordinance if the protesters behave in a way that violates the peace.
In relation to this incident, the Kuruduwatta police had named as respondents Duminda Nagamuwa, the propaganda secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party, Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of the Inter-University Student Union, 30 social activists including Rev. Gunaratne Thero, Venerable Pokunuvita Piyasoma Thero, Reverend Rathkarawe Jinarathana Thero, Acting Convener of the Inter-University Student Council Anjana Rodrigo, Benedick Joseph Stalin Fernando, Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union, Lahiru Chaturanga Weerasekera, National Organizer of the Change Youth Organization.
