SJB Protest: Police use Spike Strips to prevent buses from entering Colombo

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's main opposition faction the Samagi Jana Balavegaya has planned a massive protest in Colombo, with supporters expected to converge to the capital from many parts of the country.

It is reported that supporters from several areas have been turned back from provincial borders by Sri Lanka Police, who say the action to prevent them from proceeding was taken in accordance with the notification issued by the Director-General of Health Services.

In Kandy, SJB supporters were stopped from traveling in their buses, and they decided to march to Colombo.

In Aralaganwila, a similar situation was witnessed as buses with SJB supporters were stopped by Sri Lanka Police.

On the Puttlam - Anuradhapura Main Road, Police placed spike strips close to the Kala Oya Bridge to prevent buses from proceeding forward for the protest organized by the SJB in Colombo on Tuesday (16).

Sri Lanka Police made requests from multiple courts on Monday (15) seeking an order to prevent the protest organized by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya on Tuesday (16) in Colombo.

The Fort Magistrate’s Court rejected a request made by the Slave Island Police to issue an order preventing the Samagi Jana Balavegaya from holding a protest rally at Hyde Park, Colombo.

Requests made from the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate were also rejected.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala rejected the request made by the Keselwatte Police on Monday (15).

Police requested for an order preventing the protest from taking place in violation of the health guidelines released by the Director-General of Health Services.

Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Sanjaya L. M. Wijesinghe rejected the request made by the Mount Lavinia Police to issue an order preventing the SJB protest from taking place.

Police told the court that the protest named ’16 Jana Balaya’ within the Jurisdiction of Mount Lavinia is to take place in violation of the health guidelines and that reports claim there could be a possible terrorist or organized attack on the protest.

The request by the Mount Lavinia Assistant Superintendent of Police was made by the Mount Lavinia HQI Dileepa C Perera and Dehiwala Police OIC L. H. Dushmantha to the Additional Magistrate, who rejected the request following the submissions.

However, the Thalangama, Malabe, and Mirihana Police obtained orders from the Kaduwela and Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court preventing the protest from taking place on Tuesday (16).

Sri Lanka Police said the orders were obtained from the court in accordance with the circular issued by the Director-General of Health Services.

In addition, the Police Media Unit noted that similar orders against the protest were obtained from the Hultsdorf Number 5 Magistrate’s Court, the Mahara Number 1 & Number 2 Magistrate’s Courts, and the Homagama Magistrate’s Court.