Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Saturday, 9 July 2022 01:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Inter University Student Federation march its way to Colombo yesterday ahead of mass anti-Govt. rallies planned for today - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last night imposed an indefinite curfew from 9.00 p.m. covering select areas of the Colombo District in an apparent fearful bid to thwart convergence of mass anti-Government protestors.
Police said a curfew has been imposed in several of its jurisdictions in the Western Province from 9 p.m. Friday 8 July until further notice.
The areas are Negombo Division, Kelaniya Division, Nugegoda Division, Mount Lavinia Division, Colombo (North) Division, Colombo (South) Division and Colombo (Central) Division.
Sri Lanka Police said the people living in these police areas must remain indoors during the period of the Police curfew.
It was further informed that violation of Police curfew will be considered as a violation of public peace and law will be strictly implemented. In addition, traveling through areas where police curfew is in effect is completely prohibited, and other alternative routes should be used for that purpose.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) last night expressed strong protest against the imposition of a purported Police curfew within parts of the Western Province by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The Police Ordinance does not have a provision for the imposition of such curfew. Such curfew is blatantly illegal and a violation of the fundamental rights of the people of our country who are protesting against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his Government over its failure to protect their basic rights.
Issuing a statement, the BASL questioned the authority of the IGP to decide on such a curfew. “The BASL wishes to ask the Inspector General of Police under what authority he has decided such curfew,” it noted.
The declaration of curfew is clearly intended to stifle the freedom of expression and dissent and is totally unacceptable and undemocratic and will gravely harm Sri Lanka’s economy and its social and political stability. It will affect Sri Lanka’s international standing.
“We call upon the people of Sri Lanka to take all necessary steps to safeguard their democratic rights and to use every peaceful means at their disposal to protect such rights. We call upon the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw his illegal order,” the statement added.
The BASL also highlighted that the failure to withdraw the order will have severe consequences for the country.
Pro-GotaGoGama (GGG) protesters expressed utter disappointment over President’s knee jerk reaction saying clamping of curfew is likely to rejuvenate anti-Rajapaksa protestors. GGG has been vibrant against odds and today was expected to be unprecedented sans curfew.
