Sunhill employees file FR suit over arrest

Five employees of a Chinese restaurant in Kollupitiya filed Fundamental Rights violation petition before the Supreme Court against the police officers for the alleged violation of their Fundamental Rights to freedom of movement and of choosing their residence within Sri Lanka.

Employees alleged that they were arrested and detained by the officers of the Kollupitiya Police Station while they were returning to their quarters after their usual working hours in the night.

The employees of the “Hotel Sunhill”, G.C.Pushpakumara (steward), M.R.S.Karunathilake, S.Velautham and, H.S.K.Rathnayake (cooks) as well as M.V.R.Perera (kitchen helper) in their separate petitions cited Crime Division OIC M.P.D.I.Kulasekara, OIC Mangala Dehideniya, IGP and the At- torney General as Respondents.

When the petitions were taken up before the Bench comprising Justices P.A.Ratnayake and S.I.Imam, they were re-fixed for support on December 17 for leave to proceed.

Asela Rekawa with Amila Perera appeared for two petitioners and Upul Kumarapperuma appeared for another two petitioners while Chathura Galhena appeared for the other petitioner. State Counsel Shanaka De Silva appeared for the Attorney General.

The petitioners seek the Court to declare that their Fundamental Rights to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention as well as their right to the freedom of movement and of choosing their residence within Sri Lanka have been infringed by the Respondents.