The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today granted leave to proceed with the petitions filed against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for declaring a Police Curfew in Colombo on 9th July 2022.

A bench comprising Justices Padman Surasena, Shiran Goonaratne and Mahinda Samayawardena granted leave to proceed with the two petitions.

The petitions were filed challenging the imposing of a Police Curfew on 9th July 2022 in the Western Province preventing protestors from arriving in Colombo. 

Human Rights lawyer Atham Lebbe Aazath and civil activist Laxmanan Sanjeev challenged the decision of the IGP by way of a Fundamental Rights petition at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in August 2022.

The petitioners, Aazath and Sanjeev, allege that the IGP by declaring the curfew has violated their rights of equality; freedom of speech and expression; freedom of peaceful assembly; freedom of association and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, the Court granted leave to proceed under Article 12(1) – right of equality; 14(1)(a) – freedom of speech and expression; 14(1)(b) freedom of peaceful assembly; 14(1)(c) freedom of association; 14(1)(h) freedom of movement. 

Attorneys-at-Law Thishya Weragoda with Prathap Welikumbura, Dilan Nalaka, Yasanga Senadheera and Chamodi Wijeweera appeared for one group of petitioners, while Attorneys-at-Law Hijaz Hisbullah and Shiffan Maharoof appeared for the other petitioner.

The case has been fixed for hearing on 9th October 2023. (NewsWire)

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