Court turns down IUSF request

While rejecting a request made by the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convener Sanjeewa Bandara to revoke a bail condition imposed against him, Colombo Fort Magistrate retained in the previous order to ban the IUSF convener from entering the premises of any university in the country.

In this case, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) charged that the IUSF convener had provided leadership to block the main road at Olcott Mawatha in Pettah causing disturbance to the people and the normal flow of traffic at a protest held on August 29, 2012.

Counsel Namal Rajapaksa appearing for the suspect informed Court that his client is currently struggling for educational rights and moved that a bail condition which was imposed banning him from entering the premises of universities in the countries be revoked.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage asked counsel to submit relevant documents to prove that the suspect is an internal student of a university. The Magistrate further observed that he was rejecting the application since he is not a university student and maintained that he could enter into a university premises only upon an invitation received from the university administration.

Meanwhile, Defence Counsel argued that though the suspect was no longer a student of a university, he will engage in educational struggles like Muruttettuwe Ananda

The Magistrate was rejecting the application since he is not a university student and could enter into a university premises only upon an invitation received from the university administration

Thera who represents the nurses union without being a health employee.

In reply, the Magistrate observed that the suspect has the right to engage in any protest representing any organization but in a peaceful manner. Magistrate further maintained that Ananda Thera had not entered into hospitals and created problems though he represents the nurses union.