FR petition challenging Galle Face attack incident dismissed by SC

A public interest litigation filed challenging alleged violation of Fundamental Rights on May 9, last year following the attack on Galle Face protesters was yesterday dismissed by the Supreme Court.   The Executive Director of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, Phillip Dissanayake and another individual had filed this Fundamental Rights petition against alleged violations of Fundamental Rights on May 9, 2022 by the authorities.  

The petitioners alleged that the Police had not taken necessary action regarding the series of incidents that took place at the Galle Face Green when the protesters were attacked by a group of people and subsequent violence incidents throughout the country.   

The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Arjuna Obeyesekere refused to grant leave to proceed with the application taking into account the preliminary objections raised by the Attorney General.  

Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema appearing on behalf of the Respondents raised several Preliminary Objections, including the Petitioners not coming to Court within the required time limit, misrepresentation of vital facts, the Petition being devoid of facts to substantiate the allegations made by the Petitioners and the Petitioners not coming to Court with clean hands.  

The petitioners had named the Minister of Public Security, the Chairman of the Police Commission and its members, the IGP and ten senior DIGs including Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as respondents.  

Senior Counsel Lakshan Dias appeared for the petitioners. SSC Shaminda Wickrema assisted by SC Jemiah Sourjah and Attorney-at-Law Haajer Azhar appeared for the respondents.