Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and a senior lawyer today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order suspending the operation of the gazette notification issued by the President, declaring High-Security Zones in Colombo city.

SJB Parliamentarian Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Attorney-at-law Sudath Wickramaratne filed this petition naming the Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd), IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris PC and the Attorney General as respondents.

The petitioners state that the right to peaceful protest and assembly is a basic right which is of paramount importance and is protected by fundamental

rights guaranteed under the Constitution and under several international conventions upon which Sri Lanka has been granted GSP+, a favourable tariff by the European Union, amongst other such benefits.

Violation of these conventions would give rise to Sri Lanka’s being pegged and earmarked as a country violating international conventions and treaties.

The petitioners said that not only the European Union but also the United Nations and the United States of America have already moved a resolution against Sri Lanka.

The petitioners further said a gazette notification issued declaring the high-security zone violates articles 19, 21, and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which would also have far-reaching consequences in international forums.

The petitioners are further seeking a declaration that the High-Security Zone Order is invalid and violates their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 12(1), 14(1)(a) and 14(1)(b) of the constitution. This petition has been filed through an Attorney-at-Law, Sampath Wijewardena.