Court imposes travel ban on six protest leaders

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court today issued an order preventing six protest leaders including General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Stalin and Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) Convener Wasantha Mudalige from leaving the country.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued this order consequent to a request made by Fort Police over an investigation against the activists for allegedly causing damages to Public Property while engaging in a protest at police headquarters on June 9. Police informed court that the protest leaders can leave the country unless court imposed travel restrictions.

Accordingly, the Fort Magistrate issued travel ban on General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Stalin, Fr Jeewantha Peiris, Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) Convener Wasantha Mudalige, National Organizer of the Socialist Youth Union and national organizer of Youth for Change Lahiru Weerasekara.

On a previous occasion, nine protesters including youth activists Rathindu Senaratne alias ‘Ratta’ actors Jehan Appuhamy, Jagath Manuwarna, social activists Dhammika Munasinghe were arrested in connection with this incident.

They were granted bail by Court on the basis that the alleged offences committed by the suspects would not come under the purview of Public Property Act. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)