Duminda Nagamuwa and five others released from quarantine

Duminda Nagamuwa of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and five trade union members, who were arrested on July 07 during a protest and sent for quarantine, have been released from the quarantine center in Pallekele.

The six activists were taken into custody on July 07, over a demonstration held at Slave Island in violation of a quarantine regulation issued against public assembly and protests.

They were later released on bail after being produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. However, the court had ordered to direct them to Pallekele quarantine centre for a period of 14 days.

Meanwhile, a habeas corpus petition seeking an order to produce Duminda Nagamuwa before the court has been fixed for support on July 19.

The petition filed by Nagamuwa’s wife was taken up before Court of Appeal bench consisting of Judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola today.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris stressed that his client, who was granted bail after being arrested over a protest, was forcibly detained at a quarantine centre.

A person who is being directed to the quarantine procedure can usually choose between government facility or a private hotel but his client was denied this option by the police, he pointed out.

The president’s counsel went on to note that the health regulation issued by the Director-General of Health Services pertaining to COVID-19 mitigation has not proscribed protests.

In the meantime, reports revealed that a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed before the Supreme Court against detaining General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin under quarantine regulations.

The petition, filed through Attorney-at-Law Ravina de Silva, has named the Inspector-General of Police, Senior DIG in charge of Western Province, Officers-in-Charge of Welikada, Mirihana and Thalangama police stations, Director-General of Health Services, Colombo Chief Medical officer of Health, Attorney General and several others as its respondents.

The petition alleged that Joseph Stalin and several other trade union members were forcibly taken to Mullaitivu Quarantine Centre even after they were granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

More than 30 protesters including General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin, who were engaged in a protest at the Polduwa Roundabout in Battaramulla, had been arrested on July 08 over unlawful assembly in violation of quarantine regulations.

The arrestees were later released on personal bails each valued at Rs. 25,000 after being produced before the Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjala de Silva under the provisions of Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance.

However, Joseph Stalin and 15 of the accused were subsequently placed under quarantine at the facility in Mullaitivu.