The Liberal Youth Movement has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court challenging the legality of Emergency Regulations declared on July 18.
The convenors of the Liberal Youth Movement, Namini Panditha and Rusiru Egodage, filed this petition naming the Attorney General, Secretary to the President, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and several others as respondents.
The petitioners stated that several provisions of the Emergency Regulations impose unconstitutional restrictions on the freedom of expression, as even legitimate criticism of the government and the dissemination of accurate information that may alarm some portions of the population can potentially be punished under the Regulations.
They further stated that several provisions of the Regulations also empower the President to prohibit peaceful and non-violent gatherings without cause and violate the people’s freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the said Regulations violate their fundamental rights and the fundamental rights of the Sri Lankan people, guaranteed by Articles 11, 12(1), 13(1), 13(2), 13(5), 14(1)(a), 14(1)(b), and 14(1)(c) of the Constitution.
