By Buddhika Samaraweera

The Police yesterday (9) obstructed a peaceful protest to commemorate those who lost their lives during the “aragalaya” (people’s struggle), which began by demanding the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Galle Face Green in Colombo in April, and arrested several persons who attended the said protest.

The Police had proceeded to remove those including civil society activists who had gathered at the Galle Face Green at around 5.45 p.m. to commemorate those that had lost their lives due to various reasons while being involved in the “aragalaya”.

It was observed that a large group of police officers, including senior officers of the Colombo Fort Police Station, arrived at the scene and informed the participating activists, including Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin and former Presidential candidate Dr. Ajantha Perera, to leave the place. The police officials mentioned that since the Galle Face Green area was under Government ownership, the people would not be allowed to hold protests there.

At that time, the protestors questioned the Police as to why they were not allowed to go to the “demonstration site” declared by former President Rajapaksa for this purpose, if they were not allowed to stay at the Galle Face Green. A police officer present stated that the location had not been demarcated as such through a gazette announcement, and questioned those present as to how the location had been designated as a site for protests to be held.

A large number of police officers subsequently gathered at the Galle Face Green, and were seen, in several videos circulated online, arresting many of those present. Also, when the police officers tried to forcibly apprehend some man and women with young children in their hands, those present protested strongly.

Meanwhile, the Young Journalists’ Association had last evening informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to look into the incident and declare that the Sri Lanka Police had violated human rights by obstructing the protest. The association has further requested the HRCSL to inform Inspector General of Police Chandana D. Wickramaratne to not obstruct the peaceful protests in the future.

Courtesy:The Morning