Galle Face protestors go before the Court of Appeal against eviction

  The Galle Face protesters today filed four writ petitions in the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing the authorities from taking any steps to cause the eviction of the protesters at Gota Go Gama in the Galle Face Green. The petitioners cited Fort Police OIC Sagara Liyanage, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickremaratne, Urban Development Authority and Attorney General as the respondents of the petitioners. The petitioners stated that on the 3rd of August, at around 5:30 pm, several police officers claiming to be from the Fort Police Station arrived at the Galle Face. The Galle face is an area designated by the Government for Protests. The petitioners stated that police made an announcement urging them to vacate illegally occupying Galle Face and adjacent areas before 5 pm on the 5th of August. The petitioners stated that the protestors occupied the site for over 120 days and set up tents and other temporary structures. These structures include 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.