Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has filed a writ petition before Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal challenging a court order restricting protests in the Colombo Fort area in connection with demands concerning imprisoned Buddhist monk Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero.
The petition seeks a writ order preventing the enforcement of a directive previously issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
The Magistrate’s Court order was issued to prevent demonstrations in the Colombo Fort area relating to calls for Gnanasara Thero to be granted a pardon and demands concerning the removal of his monastic robe.
Petition challenges Magistrate’s Court order
According to the details of the petition, Gammanpila is seeking judicial intervention to prevent the implementation of the protest restriction.
The former Minister has challenged the order through a writ application filed before the Court of Appeal, requesting relief against its enforcement.
The legal action concerns demonstrations connected to Gnanasara Thero, who is serving a prison sentence.
The earlier order by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court restricted protests in the specified area relating to the demands concerning the monk.
Senior officials named as respondents
Gammanpila has named several authorities as respondents in his petition.
They include the Officer-in-Charge of the Colombo Fort Police Station, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and the Colombo Fort Magistrate.
The petition seeks the Court of Appeal’s intervention in relation to the enforcement of the Magistrate’s Court order.
The filing of the writ application does not itself suspend the existing order. Any decision to grant relief will depend on the Court of Appeal’s consideration of the petition.
The supplied report does not specify a hearing date or indicate whether the Court of Appeal has issued any interim order.
