Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday issued an order preventing a group of protesters including the Convenor of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige from marching towards and entering Galle Face Green, Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, Finance Ministry premises and other nearby establishments through several roads in Colombo between 11.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. yesterday (March 07).
The Magistrate made this order subsequent to the requests made by the Fort, Slave Island and Kollupitiya Police Stations.
They were also prevented from damaging public property and engaging in any act which could lead to violence.
Meanwhile, Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis yesterday rejected a request made by the Cinnamon Garden Police to issue an order preventing the protest organized yesterday by 16 members including the the Convenor of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige.
The Cinnamon Garden Police informed the Magistrate that Intelligence Division has received information that more than 1,600 protesters are said to participate in the aforesaid protest. Police also noted that majority of the hospitals, embassies and schools are located in the Cinnamon Garden Police domain.
After taking the facts into consideration, the Magistrate observed that according to the 14th Constitution, everyone has the right to freedom of expression and it is a fundamental right of the people.
The Magistrate rejected the request stating that the police has not submitted sufficient facts to prevent the aforesaid protest.
by dailynews sri lanka
, Security, ,