Leave to proceed was granted in the FR petition filed accusing the police of arbitrary arrest during the protest held against the murder of George Floyd by the US police

The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed against Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennekoon and other police officers over the arrest made in respect of protestors at Lipton Circus and Colpetty in 2020, while they were staging a protest over the US police murder of George Floyd.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva, and Mahinda Samayawardena granted leave to proceed in respect of two Fundamental Rights petitions under Articles 11, 12(1), 12(2), 13(1), 13(2), 14(1) (a) and 14 (1) (b) of the constitution.

Twenty-four petitioners, including Frontline Socialist Party Leader Kumar Gunaratnam, Duminda Nagamuwa, and Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopege, filed these Fundamental Rights petitions against the arbitrary, malicious, and discriminatory actions of the police.

The Petitioners state that their arrest is arbitrary, unreasonable, unlawful, and in violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

They maintained that there was no credible complaint implicating the petitioners in violating any law or judicial order.

President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Counsel Pulasthi Hewamanne, and Thanuka Nandasiri appeared for the Petitioners.