Court shoots down PS Chairman’s attempt to ban Muslim traders

• Marawila Magistrate directs police to ensure all communities allowed to trade at weekly fair 
• Case will be heard again on 23 July 
• Wennappuwa PS and five others released on bail 
• SLPP initiates disciplinary action against PS Chairman

Marawila Magistrate Keminda Perera yesterday directed the Dankotuwa Police to ensure that traders of all communities are allowed to do business at the weekly fair irrespective of their ethnicity. 

The magistrate’s order came when the Chairman of the Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha Susantha Perera and five others appeared in court in connection with a complaint that they had attempted to stop Muslim traders from doing business at Dankotuwa fair.

The magistrate ordered both parties to present themselves in court on July 23 and released the Respondents on unconditional bail as they had presented themselves in court on the due date. 

The court action against the Chairman and others were initiated by the Dankotuwa Police following complaints lodged against him after he addressed a letter to the police asking them to take action to temporarily stop Muslim traders from operating at the weekly fair so as to maintain a peaceful atmosphere which could be threatened by their presence.

The PS Chairman, a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), in his letter to the OIC of the Dankotuwa Police said the temporary ban is necessary in order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile the SLPP has condemned the move by the PS Chairman and called him for a disciplinary hearing. “His decision was not known by the SLPP party leader or the Wennappuwa PS Members,” UPFA MP Kanchana Wijesekera said on his twitter account.