Aragalaya linked activist priest files petition to prevent arrest
COLOMBO – Father Jeevantha Peiris, a Catholic priest prominently associated with the youth-led anti-government protests, has filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition with the Supreme Court seeking an order to prevent his arrest.
Lasantha Manoj Nanayakkara, a lawyer closely affiliated with Fr Peiris, claimed the main reason for Fr Periris’ anticipated arrest is a protest march held from Kollupitiya to the World Trade Centre in Fort on the 50th day of the protests movement known as the Aragalaya, or the Struggle.
A court order blocking protestors from some roads in Colombo was issued for that day to prevent traffic congestion or any incidents of violence.
Fr Peiris’ petition names Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon, Inspector General of Police (IGP) C. D. Wickramaratne, the commanders of tri-forces, the Attorney General and several others as respondents.
A travel ban has also been issued against the priest and four other activists, after the Colombo Fort police allegedly received information of a plan by some protestors to leave the country.
Other activists whose names have been forward to Controller Immigration and Emigration and the airport, include Wasantha Mudalige, convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF); Joseph Stalin, General Secretary Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union; Eranga Gunasekera National Organizer Socialist Youth Union (SYU), and Lahiru Weerasekera of the Frontline Socialist Party.
Meanwhile, police on July 27 raided a church in Ratnapura looking Fr Peiris stating that there were orders to “arrest him on sight,” Fr Peiris’ lawyer Nanayakkara said, adding that though police raids had been conducted in Ratnapura, they have not been unable to identify which brank of the police were involved in the raid.
When contacted, a spokesman for the Ratnapura police said it was difficult to comment on the raid as different police divisions operate in the district.
-economynext.com