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Four writ petitions filed by Galle Face protesters before the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing the authorities from removing the protest site at Gota Go Gama in the Galle Face Green were today withdrawn by the petitioners themselves.
President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris with M.A. Sumanthiran PC appearing on behalf of the petitioners informed that they are not expecting to proceed with these applications since the protesters have decided to vacate the Galle Face protest site today (10). They sought the court’s permission to withdraw the petitions, reserving their clients’ legal rights.
A two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola granted permission to withdraw the petitions and decided to dismiss the petitions accordingly.
On the 4th of August, the Attorney General informed the court that temporary structures at the protest site would not be removed, contrary to the law, until August 10.
Four Galle Face protesters, Lahiru Anton Madhushan Fernando, Irosh Alponsu, Ven.Miragahawatta Kashyapa thero and Asanka Abeyratne, had filed four writ petitions seeking an order preventing the authorities from taking any steps to cause the eviction of the protesters at Gota Go Gama in Galle Face Green.
Fort Police OIC. Sagara Liyanage, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickremaratne, Urban Development Authority, and Attorney General were named as the respondents to the petitions.
The petitioners stated that on August 3rd, at around 5:30 pm, several police officers claiming to be from the Fort Police Station arrived at Galle Face, the area which has been designated by the government for the protestors.
The petitioners stated that the protestors have been peacefully occupying the said site for over 120 days and have set up tents and other temporary structures. These structures included a library.
The petitioners stated that police have no authority in law to evict those occupying the area of the Gota Go Gama without an order from a competent court with jurisdiction according to the law.
