Obstructing poll campaign: Sujeewa files FR petition

10 August 2015 08:07 am

Deputy Justice Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe today filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order directing the police to take disciplinary action against the sergeant who Mr. Senasinghe claimed to have blocked a truck that was being used in his election campaign.

The petitioner said the truck had speakers fixed on it for the purpose of canvassing and that it was in line with the Elections Commissioner’s permission for candidates to use speakers for electioneering.

He said the truck was parked at Athurugiriya when the Sergeant who had arrived in a police jeep parked it across the road thus preventing the truck being moved.

The petitioner said the sergeant had also threatened to arrest the truck driver.

He said the sergeant was under the influence of liquor and that he had informed the Mirihana SSP to do a spot check to confirm and verify the petitioner’s complaint.

The petitioner sought a compensation of Rs.5 million from the respondents cited including the IGP and five others. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)