The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) reiterated today that peaceful rallies and dissent should not be controlled by the use of the military and police.
The Bar Association has condemned the removal of a group of protesters from the ramparts of the Galle Fort on Wednesday (29) in a letter to the Army Commander and Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Protesters carried banners and placards with anti-government slogans and urged the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Then, Police and Army took measures to remove the protesters from the site.
In the letter the BASL stated that the ramparts of the Galle Fort are public spaces, and thus there is no legal reason to disperse protesters.
“The suppression of the people’s right to protest and dissent is not the solution to the country’s current situation, in which the people are facing unimaginable hardships due to fuel and other essential shortages. We reiterate that police and armed forces should not be used to suppress peaceful protests and dissent,” the BASL said.
The BASL also condemned the involvement of Army personnel in removing the protesters stating that such involvement by Army personnel is not in accordance with the law.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
Three persons arrested on Saturday close to the Thalawila St Anne’s Church have been held under detention orders for questioning.
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