Courts order against holding street marches
Eight including ex-MP Mujibur Rahman hospitalised
The protest march organized by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya in Colombo yesterday (30) was dispersed by the police using water cannons and tear gas. Police fired tear gas at the protest that started near Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo and near Colombo Public Library and Town Hall.
The SJB started their protest under the theme ‘2024, the year of making a change” from the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, urging the Government to strengthen democracy and reduce the pressure on the people of the country and allow the people to live freely.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa along with opposition MPs, representatives of trade unions and civil society organizations, representatives of all the women and youth wings of the party joined the protest. Eight persons including National organizer of the Anti Corruption Force Mujibur Rahman who were injured after Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protest, were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.
The Opposition Leader addressed the protestors at the Town hall following the police attack and he later went to the Colombo National Hospital to inquire the health of those who were injured following the police attack. Three Magistrate’s Courts including the Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday issued order prohibiting the sixteen MPs including the Opposition Leader from obstructing or hindering the road users and pedestrians due to the protest of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
These orders were issued when the Maligawatte Police sought an order from the Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake. Similar orders were also issued by Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage and Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama after Slave Island, Fort and Maradana made request to the Court.
Police filing a B report informed Court that Intelligence Services have received reports that SJB with about 15,000 people will arrive at Fort Railway Station from Maradana Cinnamon Garden Police Station through a number of roads including CTO Junction, Olcott Mawatha, Chatham Road, Chaityajaya Road, The Police sought an order to ban the protests.
NIMANTHI RANASINGHE and SUBASHINI SENANAYAKE
