Requests to ban JO protest within Welikada and Kollupitya rejected

The Colombo Additional Magistrate has rejected a request made by Welikada Police seeking a court order prohibiting the Joint Opposition from protesting within the Welikada police division.

Welikada Police stated that they had received intelligence reports of protest rallies which would disrupt public peace in the Welikada police division and had requested the court to order barring such protest rallies being held within aforementioned police division.

Defense counsel countered stating that the case cannot be continued on the basis that such a charge can only be filed by an officer holding a rank of at least Assistant Superintendent of Police or higher.

Pointing that the this protest rally would not disrupt the public peace, defense counsel further said that, the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly have been guaranteed by the Constitution.

Defense counsel, stating that the police have no right to prohibit the freedom of speech and assembly, pleaded the court to reject the request of the Welikada police.

Additional Magistrate Kanchana de Silva pointed out that the police have the right to take action on any incident which would disrupt the peace.

However, she stated that there is no reason to pass a special order on the rally and rejected the request of the police.

Meanwhile, the Fort Magistrate’s Court had also rejected the request of the police regarding the Joint Opposition ‘Jana Balaya’ protest rally.

Kollupitiya police had made a request seeking a court order barring Joint Opposition from holding the rally within the Kollupitiya Police Division.