Colombo violence: AG draws IGP’s attention to domestic and int’l ramifications, asks for thorough probe

Drawing the attention of the Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne to the domestic and international ramifications of the incidents in front of Temple Trees and Galle Face, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, has urged the Police Chief to conduct a thorough investigation.

The AG has stated: “People, in the exercise of their constitutional rights as guaranteed in terms of Articles 14 (1)(a); (b); and (c) of the Constitution, have been engaged in freedoms of speech; peaceful assembly; and, association, at various places in the country over the past few weeks, In this regard, it is the constitutional duty of all organs of Government, to respect, secure and advance the fundamental rights in terms of Article 4 (d) of the Constitution.”

“The peaceful assemblies of protest were interfered by a large group of people in breach of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Penal Laws of the land as could be seen from the incidents that occurred in Colombo on 09. May 2022.

“The unlawful interference was seen to have been carried-out in the form of physical assault of serious nature causing bodily injury to those who engaged in the exercise of their constitutional freedoms.

“Having regard to the serious nature of the matters involved, I advise you to conduct fully-fledged investigations into the incidents of unlawful interference into peoples’ constitutional rights; the circumstances that led to them; and, the consequent commission of penal offences in the process, As the incidents in metropolitan Colombo have triggered sporadic acts of violence of serious nature involving people and their property all over the country, I advise you further to investigate the aftermath of the incidents of 09th May 2022.”