Protesters face arrest if they disrupt normalcy
BASL, diplomatic community express concern over imposition of state of emergency
People engaging in protests in a manner that disrupts normalcy or turns violent will face arrest under the state of emergency declared by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Public Security Ministry Secretary Major General (retd) Jagath Alwis told the Sunday Times.
He said incidents where protesters block main roads for several hours, as had been seen in recent days near the Parliament complex, would be brought under control, using the emergency regulations.
“It is our duty to provide safe passage to the public and the Members of Parliament heading for parliamentary sessions,” Maj Gen Alwis said.
Public Security Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Sunday Times the state of emergency would be enforced with the help of the Police, military and the district secretaries,
He said that after a Security Council meeting presided over by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Guneratne held a separate meeting with officials to brief them on the enforcement of emergency regulations. A gazette notification was due to be issued last night, outlining powers given to the police, military and the District Secretaries in enforcing the state of emergency.
“The state of emergency was required to ensure that the situation does not go out of control and to protect the public," Mr Ranatunga said.
However, the declaration of the state of emergency drew immediate condemnation from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, civil society activists and the Colombo-based diplomatic community.
The Bar Association in a statement explained that consequent to the declaration of a state of emergency "the President is empowered to make emergency regulations which can override, amend or suspend the provision of any law, except the provisions of the Constitution."
The BASL said it was of the view that a declaration of a state of emergency was not the answer to the present crisis, which had seen a spate of public protests and strikes.
“These protests reflect the desperate situation of the people who are seeking to secure for themselves, their families some of the most basic essentials in life. Similarly, the declaration of the state of emergency will further complicate the efforts at restoring political stability in Sri Lanka,” the BASL said.
The Department of Information, in a statement said the state of emergency was declared “to ensure political stability which is a vital condition in overcoming the current socio-economic crisis in the country thereby assuring public safety and uninterrupted supply of essential services.”
The European Union delegation in Sri Lanka expressed concern over the imposition of the state of emergency. It said it strongly urged the Sri Lankan authorities to safeguard democratic rights of citizens, including their right to free assembly and dissent, which has to be peaceful.
British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton said in a twitter message: “A democratic and peaceful approach is essential to resolving the current challenge. Rights to a democratic and peaceful approach is essential to resolving the current challenges. Rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression must be respected alongside all fundamental rights. Emergency laws restricting those rights work against democratic dialogue and solutions.”
Several other diplomatic missions have issued similar statements.