Courts deny requests made by Police

Colombo (News1st) - Three Police stations went to court today (Sept 4) seeking court orders regarding the protest organized by the joint opposition scheduled for tomorrow. The Colombo Chief Magistrate rejected a request made by the Cinnamon Gardens Police seeking an order to prevent an attempt by those attending the Joint Opposition rally from surrounding the Malalasekara Mawatha residence of President Maithripala Sirisena. The Police made the request naming 11 respondents which included parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. The Colombo Chief Magistrate stressed that if anyone takes steps to surround the official residence of the President it can be viewed as a conspiracy to topple the government and in such a situation the police can use force without a court order. The court further noted that if there is sufficient evidence to show that a group is preparing for such a move the police could arrest them at any time. Meanwhile, the request made by the Welikada Police to prevent JO protestors from disrupting the general public by entering the main road from the Polduwa Junction, Diyatha Uyana and the Polduwa roundabout was rejected by Colombo additional magistrate Kanchana Neranjana. The Colpetty Police today informed the Fort magistrate court that the protesters who enter the area falling under the purview of the Colpetty police may clash with the general public. The Colpetty police requested the Fort magistrate for an order preventing the entry of these protesters to the area. Rejecting this request Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne questioned whether protests of this nature resulted in clashes between the general public and the protesters in the past. The Magistrate further ordered the police to use their resources to respond to such a situation if it transpires.