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‘9 July’ protest today as court rejects Police request 

09 Aug 2022

  • Protestors to converge on Viharamahadevi (Victoria) Park
  • Police ordered to take relevant steps if violence erupts
  • Two more to be arrested over Rupavahini incident 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe yesterday (8) rejected a request made by the Police to issue a restraining order against a protest planned to be held today (9), organised by several political parties and civil organisations, against President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the current Government. While informing the court that several political parties and civil organisations have planned to hold a protest at the Viharamahadevi (Victoria) Park in Colombo today, the Cinnamon Gardens Police had requested the Colombo Magistrate's Court to issue an order preventing the said protest from being held. However, when the request was considered yesterday, the Chief Magistrate rejected the request made by the Police, and instead ordered the Police to take the relevant steps if any person or group attending the protest should commit any act of violence. It was reported that several groups, including political parties and civil organisations, are to hold a protest in Colombo and some other areas today, in protest over President Wickremesinghe and the current Government. However, certain groups connected to the “RanilGoGama” public protest site, which demanded the resignation of Wickremesinghe, have stated that they would not engage in the said protest. Meanwhile, the Cinnamon Gardens Police reported to Amarasinghe yesterday that two more suspects are expected to be arrested in connection with the alleged incident of a group of protestors trespassing into the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) premises in Colombo 7, and disrupting its broadcasting activities. The Police requested the court to issue an order to present one of the said suspects before court, as he is currently in remand custody in connection with a case being heard in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. The Colombo Chief Magistrate then directed the Police to obtain the relevant order from the respective magistrate.


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