Gazette to ban unacceptable face cover and 3 extremist organizations issued

Colombo (News 1st): The Gazette to ban three extremist organizations was issued today (May 14). Using the powers of the Public Security Ordinance, the gazette notification was issued by President Maithripala Sirisena. As per the gazette notification,

"No person shall, within or outside Sri Lanka, be a member or cadre of, provide leadership to;, wear, display, hoist or possess the uniform, dress, symbol, emblem, or flag of; summon, convene, conduct or take part in a meeting of;, obtain membership or join;, harbor, conceal, assist a member, cadre or any other associate of; promote, encourage, support, advice, assist, act on behalf of; donate or contribute money or material to;, procure, store, transport, possess or distribute material for or of; any organization specified in the Schedule."

In addition, the gazette notification prohibits to engage in any transaction with these organizations. Any person who acts in contravention of these regulations, shall on conviction by the High Court be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twenty years. Any person who conspires to commit or attempts abets or engages in any conduct in preparation to commit an offence in contravention of these regulations shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years. Meanwhile, the Gazette to prohibit the concealing of the full face not including the ears which will in any manner cause any hindrance to the identification of such person: of them in any public place, any garment, clothing or other material, was issued today. The Gazette also states that a member of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, a police officer or a member of the Department of Civil Security may require such person to remove such garment, clothing or other material which conceals such person’s full face, for identification purposes.