Colombo Magistrate refuses to ban SJB Hyde Park protest

Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddika Sri Ragala today refused to ban the protest which will be held by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya tomorrow at Hyde Park.

Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala issued this order considering the submissions made by Senior Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Deleepa Pieris and perusing the documents filed by the Attorney General in Court.

The Magistrate observed that even though the DSG had stated that protest would violate the directions made by the Health Service Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena in respect of the Covid 19 pandemic, no
such direction had  been revealed by the documents filed in court.

The Magistrate also said that the Attorney General had filed this application in a wrong court. He said that it should be filed at the Fort Magistrate Court who has the Jurisdiction to hear the
application.

However the Magistrate said that since Fort Magistrate  Court is a part of Chief Magistrate Court he will inquire the application.

The Magistrate further said it is a right of the public to protest to which the court cannot interfere.

However he directed the police to arrest violators of health guidelines and dismissed the application of the Attorney General.

Meanwhile the government has declared new anti-coronavirus regulations to limit the size of public gatherings, days before the opposition plans to hold a mass rally in Hyde Park. 

The government has empowered authorities to determine the maximum number of people gathering at public meetings in an order made on Thursday.(Farook Thajudeen)