Description

Civil society activist Chirantha Amerasinghe has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing his arrest. In his petition, he claimed that he received information that Police are planning to arrest him over incidents relating to the Galle Face protest on 9th of July and covering a protest organized by Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku on 28th November on the illegal poaching of Indian fishermen. He also said that there is no legal basis for such an inquiry against him. Amarasinghe speaking at a press briefing further said that a mob of people claiming to be trishaw drivers attempted to disrupt the protest, also threatened him, and snatched his phone while he was recording the protest to be published on his facebook page. He told the media that even though he made a complaint to the Police, they failed to take any action claiming that they have insufficient information, despite him providing them with identifying details including photographs of the persons who made threats. He accused that the mobs who threatened him were sent by the pro-government parties and they were supported by some Police officers present there, and one Police officer threatened him with arrest.