DNA to file FR

19 August 2010 07:22 am

By Jamila Najmuddin

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) members will file a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court against their alleged unlawful arrest and detention by the Galle Police recently.

DNA MP Vijitha Herath who was one of the three DNA members who was arrested said his party’s lawyers would soon file the FR petition in order to seek justice against their alleged unlawful abuse by the police.

Herath added that he, along with party members Ajith Kumara and Nalin Hewage had also lodged two complaints at the Police Headquaters in Colombo today urging the police to conduct an impartial investigation.

The first complaint is against the Galle Police assaulting members of the DNA while taking part in an anti government protest in the area on August 12 and the second is against the police constables who allegedly assaulted Members of Parliament while being in custody at the Galle police station.

“We handed over our complaint to senior police officers at the Police Headquaters and have urged for an impartial inquiry. We will also file an FR at the Supreme Court against the Galle Police. It is our right to take part in protests. The police cannot assault anyone, especially those who are Members of Parliament,” Herath told Daily Mirror online.

A tense situation broke out in Galle on August 12 as the DNA staged a protest against the government demanding the release of their leader Sarath Fonseka. DNA members, Vijitha Herath, Nalin Hewage and Ajith Kumara were later arrested by the police. (Daily Mirror online) 

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel