FR against Army intervention at Galle Protest

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Fundamental Rights Petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court seeking a ruling that basic human rights have been violated by the army officers who stormed the peaceful protestors at the Galle Fort during the Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia, and forcibly removed the protest placards.

The FR application was filed by two lawyers Amaradiwakara Liyanarachi and G. H. Ajith Kumara.

The Commanding Officer of Galle Fort Army Camp, the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police, Galle Police Headquarters IP, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Galle District, the Inspector General of Police, Public Security Minister Tiran Alas and the Secretary of the Ministry, the Attorney General have been named as respondents in the case.

The petitioners point out that on the 30th of June 2022 they engaged in a peaceful protest by displaying placards in protest against the President and the actions of the current government.

It has been alleged in the petition that the armed forces personnel who stormed the premised forcibly removed their protest placards.

The petition also states that the army officers who acted arbitrarily addressed the protestors in a threatening manner.

The petition also stated that although the protestors pointed out to the army officers that they have the fundamental right to protest peacefully, the army personnel had said that such a thing cannot be done at this place.

The petitioners stated that they have filed a complaint with the Galle Police against the incident.

The petitioners are asking the Supreme Court to rule that the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, assembly and freedom from cruel torture guaranteed by the Constitution have been violated.

It has further demanded a compensation of Rs. 5 million for the violation of fundamental rights.