Stalin et al strike defiant note from quarantine centre at Mullaitivu

Those who were detained last week for holding a demonstration against the proposed Kotelawala Defence University and sent to quarantine centre in Mullaitivu, held another demonstration on Wednesday there.

Among them (centre) is the General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin. Addressing the media after the protest at the quarantine centre in Mullaitivu, Stalin said that if they were not released immediately, they would intensify the demonstrations inside the SLAF camp where they were undergoing quarantine.

“We will continue to oppose this bill. There will be demonstrations everyday across the country against this,” he said.

Stalin and 31 others were arrested for violating health regulations in place to contain the spread of the pandemic by gathering in public. Although the Magistrate refused to send the protesters for quarantine, the police packed them off to Mullaitivu.

Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando told The Island that the quarantine laws had been used to harass various parties that opposed the Kotelawala Defence University Bill.

Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Asela Gunawardene needed to ensure that the police enforced quarantine laws in a just and impartial manner, Dr. Fernando said.