Teachers union goes to the Supreme Court

Police statement violates the fundamental rights

No toleration of suppression anymore

President of the Sri Lanka Teachers' Union, Mr. Priyantha Fernando and a few Officers of Teachers’ Unions have filed a Fundamental Rights Petition in the Supreme Court yesterday (14th).

The petition seeks the Supreme Court to order that by the press statement issued by the Police Media Unit on 06.07.2021 declaring that all protests and public demonstrations have been suspended, as a violation of the freedom of speech and expression as well as fundamental rights of the people of the country established by the Constitution.

The petition filed through Attorney-at-Law Ravina De Silva had cited the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of Health Services, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and the Attorney General as respondents.
 

The petitioners also pointed out to the Supreme Court that the media statement issued by the Police Media Spokesman based on an undated statement,  

01/D / 02/7/13/2017/20, issued by the Director General of Health Services, suppressed the rights of the people to hold peaceful protests and demonstrations to win their trade rights and to stand against the injustices done to them.

Petitioners Priyantha Fernando, Mohamed Shameen, Rasika Handapangoda, R. Vijaya Lakshmi and Chathu Adhikari have requested the Supreme Court to give priority to the petition considering it as urgent and important.