5 August 2022 08:38 am Views - 160
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
The Galle Face protesters yesterday filed four writ petitions in the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing the authorities from taking any steps to cause the eviction of the protesters at Gota Go Gama in Galle Face Green.
Fort Police OIC Sagara Liyanage, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickremaratne, Urban Development Authority and Attorney General were named as the respondents of the petitioners.
The petitioners stated that on August 3 at around 5:30 pm, several police officers claiming to be from the Fort Police Station arrived at Galle Face, the area which has been designated by the Government.
The petitioners stated that police made an announcement urging them to vacate all those who are illegally occupying Galle Face and adjacent areas, before 5 pm on August 5.
The petitioners stated that the protesters have been peacefully occupying the said site for a period of over 120 days, and they set up tents and other temporary structures. These structures include a library.
The Petitioners stated that police have no authority in law to evict those occupying the area of the Gota Go Gama, without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction according to law.
These petitions had been filed through Attorney-at-law Manjula Balasooriya.