President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued another extraordinary gazette as an update to the curfew imposed from 6 pm today (02), barring any presence in the public without a written approval from an authority.
Accordingly, no one shall be on public roads, railways, public parks, public playgrounds, other public lands or beaches between 6 pm this evening and 6 am on April 04, without a written approval by an authorised officer.
MIAP
The Church of Ceylon raised its grave concern over the government’s move of imposing a state of emergency in the country whilst declaring the anti-government protests held two days ago to be an act committed by an ‘extremist group’.
The Church of Ceylon questioned the government’s motive in rushing to identify parties allegedly responsible within such a short period of time without stating any credible basis for such conclusion, in a statement issued today (02).
Pointing out that what the country experienced on March 31 night was the culmination of small-scale agitations and peaceful protests carried out the entire week in several areas of the country, calling on the government to wake up from its slumber, the Church of Ceylon stressed that the President and the government should listen to the cries of the people of this country and fulfill their fundamental obligations as a responsible administration.
It further noted that the declaration of a state of emergency will be an incentive for the Executive, the Police and Armed Forces to act with impunity, urging the Police the STF and the Armed Forces to act with discernment when differentiating between peaceful gatherings of solidarity and unruly behaviour.
MIAP
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa together with a group of legal experts arrived at the Modara Police Station this (02) afternoon to provide legal support on behalf of Thisara Anurudhdha Bandara, the Social Media critic who was abducted last night, and to investigate the incident.
Bandara was reportedly abducted by a group in plain clothes who claimed themselves to be the Modara Police.
The Officer in Charge of the Modara Police Station had initially denied the claim that no such arrest was ever made, however, later admitted that the Activist was in police custody in the outcome of the social pressure exerted.
Accordingly, Bandara is due to be produced before the Court.
There is no possibility of a certain act abolishing the right to freedom of speech protected by the Constitution of Sri Lanka, said President’s Counsel Thisath Wijegunawardena, Legal Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
Opposition Leader Premadasa also commented with the media at the occasion.
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Following the imposition of the islandwide curfew effective from 6 pm today, the Department of Railway revealed in a statement that train services will be operated only for essential services during the period.
Accordingly, only oil and freight will be transported, but the scheduled train services will also operate until midnight today (02).
Meanwhile, bus operations have completely been shut down during the curfew period. SLTB bus services have also been suspended, but the planned routes for today will be operational.
There will be no restrictions on passengers going to the airport to leave the country, and their airline tickets can be used as a curfew licence during the period.
MIAP
Island wide curfew will be imposed with effect from 6 pm today (02), until 6 am Monday (04).
The decision has been taken in accordance with the powers vested in the President under the provisions of the Public Security Ordinance.
MIAP
Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara has made a special announcement on upcoming protests, stating that although the government will not take away the democratic right to protest, stern legal action will be taken against those who damage public or private property under the guise of protests.
The Minister also urged the people to be patient and not to be deceived by saboteurs as the government has fostered a programme to solve the people’s problems.
MIAP
Unconfirmed reports claimed that plans are underway to impose curfew this afternoon in order to prevent the anti-government protests that are set to take place tomorrow (03).
The government imposed police curfew from midnight yesterday to 06 am today.
The discussion chaired by the President with the Ruling Party MPs yesterday (01) also paid focus on imposing an islandwide curfew with effect from April 03, sources told LNW, but the President had not responded to this request.
MIAP
Declaration comes after hundreds of protesters clashed with police and the military
Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency, following violent protests over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Rajapaksa said in a government gazette notification late on Friday that he took the decision in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and essential services.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police and military on Thursday outside Rajapaksa’s residence in a suburb of the capital, Colombo.
Police arrested 53 people and imposed a curfew in and around Colombo on Friday to contain sporadic protests that have broken out over shortages of essential items, including fuel and other goods.
The Indian Ocean island nation of 22 million people faces rolling blackouts for up to 13 hours a day as the government scrambles to secure foreign exchange to pay for fuel imports.
The country’s lucrative tourism industry and foreign workers’ remittances have been sapped by the pandemic, and public finances were hit further by deep tax cuts promised by Rajapaksa during his 2019 election campaign.
Ordinary Sri Lankans are also dealing with shortages and soaring inflation, after the country steeply devalued its currency last month ahead of talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.
An alliance of 11 political parties has urged Rajapaksa to dissolve the cabinet and form a government with all parties to deal with the crisis, local media said, in a nation where both India and China are competing to build influence.
Police used teargas and water cannon to disperse crowds near Rajapaksa’s residence on Thursday, after they torched several police and army vehicles.
At least two dozen police personnel were injured in the clashes, an official said, declining to comment on the number of protesters hurt.
Tourism minister Prasanna Ranatunge warned such protests would harm economic prospects. “The main issue Sri Lanka is facing is a forex shortage, and protests of this nature will hurt tourism and have economic consequences,” Ranatunge said.
The United Nations representative in the country, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, called for restraint from all groups involved in the clashes. “We are monitoring developments and are concerned by reports of violence,” she said on Twitter.
Arrests can be made without a charge being pressed under the Public Security Act on the condition of a state of emergency being imposed for the Public Security Act will come forward, overriding all the laws and regulations of the country in such a state, said Senior Advocate Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa.
However, the Public Security Act has no capacity of overriding the Fundamental Rights Chapter of the Constitution 1978, Mahanamahewa emphasised, speaking to a briefing held in Colombo today (02). Accordingly, the people’s Right to Speech, Right to Assembly and Right to Protest are protected despite a state of emergency being imposed, he added.
Although the Police and the Military are capable of making arrests without pressing charges on the condition of a state of emergency, any person arrested without a warrant or a charge is protected from being tortured under the Constitution, he further noted.
MIAP
Former MP Hirunuka Premachandra together with the Samagi Vanitha Balakaya the women’s wing of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has raided the temple dedicated to a deity belonging to spiritual advisor Gnana Meniyo, or commonly known as ‘Gnanakka’.
The Samagi Vanitha Balakaya has launched a march from Point Pedro to Dondra Point to protest against the current regime led by the President and has surrounded Gnana Meniyo’s temple in Anuradhapura.
MIAP
