Trial against Joseph Stalin and 32 others fixed for July 01

Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Rajakaruna today fixed for July 01 the trial against General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin and 32 others for staging a demonstration in Battaramulla while violating quarantine laws.

When the case was called before Additional Magistrate Rajakakaruna, 12 suspects were not present in Court and Attorneys-at- law Rajitha Kodituwakku and Lalith Pathiranage appearing for the suspects informed the court that some of the suspects were not present due to illness and various other reasons.

 However, the Attorneys-at-law undertook to produce the suspects for the trial on the next date of the case.  

In this case 32 persons including General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin were arrested for staging a demonstration in Battaramulla, in violation of quarantine laws and were released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court earlier.

The Welikada Police arrested the accused for engaging in an unlawful assembly while violating the  quarantine regulations during the Covid 19 pandemic and also claiming that the protest had inconvenienced the ambulances travelling towards the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and for  obstructing  traffic on Parliament Road and had violated the quarantine laws. Police also alleged that this had caused a severe public disturbance.

Police had arrested suspects for staging a protest at the Polduwa Roundabout in Battaramulla while violating the quarantine regulations.

The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) had organized the protest against the proposed General Sir John Kotelawala National Defense University Bill.

General Secretary of the CTU Joseph Stalin, IUSF Convener Ven. Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, another Buddhist monk and two women were charged before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court under the provisions of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance.

However yesterday Welikada Police informed Court that they have amended the plaint and included charges against the suspects for obstructing the public roadway and for unlawful assembly. (T. Farook Thajudeen)