• Says attempts to prevent protests using quarantine regulations violate people’s fundamental rights

The General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking a declaration that attempts by police and Health Authorities to prevent protests using quarantine regulations violate people’s fundamental rights. 

This petitioner had named IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena, the OIC of Thalangama Police, the OIC of Mirihana Police Station, Health Minister Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi and Attorney General as respondents. 

According to the petition, Joseph Stalin is a teacher by profession and is serving in the teacher’s service for more than approximately 30 years.  The petitioner said the protesters gathered at Battaramulla junction on July 08, against the proposed Kotalawela Defence  Academy Bill. 

The petitioner stated that around 11 am, a group of police used excessive force to disperse the protesters and arrested the corpus together with around 30 persons.  The petitioner stated that the protesters who were released on bail by Colombo Magistrate then forcibly taken to quarantine centre in Mullaitivu without any presence of the health authority or antigen test or PCR test.