SC dismisses public interest litigation filed against violations of fundamental rights on May 9 last year

SC dismisses public interest litigation filed against violations of fundamental rights on May 9 last year.

A public interest lawsuit filed challenging the alleged violations of fundamental rights that occurred on May 9, last year, following the attack on Galle Face protesters was dismissed today by the Supreme Court.

The Executive Director of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, Phillip Dissanayake, and another individual filed this Fundamental Rights Petition against alleged violations of Fundamental rights by the authorities on May 9, 2022.

The petitioners alleged that the Police had not taken necessary action regarding the series of incidents that took place at the Galle Face Green when the protestors were attacked by a group of people and subsequent incidents of violence throughout the country.

The three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Arjuna Obeyesekere refused to grant leave to proceed with the application, taking into account the preliminary objections raised by the Attorney General.

Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema, appearing on behalf of the Respondents, raised several Preliminary Objections, including the Petitioners not coming to Court within the required time limit, misrepresentation of vital facts, the Petition being devoid of facts to substantiate the allegations made by the Petitioners, and the Petitioners not coming to Court with clean hands.

The petitioners had named the Minister of Public Security, the Chairman of the Police Commission and its members, the IGP, and ten senior DIGs, including Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, as respondents.

Senior Counsel Lakshan Dias appeared for the petitioners. SSC Shaminda Wickrema, assisted by SC Jemiah Sourjah, and Attorney-at-Law Haajer Azhar appeared for the respondents.