Description

On 20th February, Main Opposition political party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) organized
a protest march in Colombo against the postponing elections. The protest was dispersed by
the Police using tear gas and water cannons, near the Technical Junction in Maradana in
Colombo. Earlier that day, Police requested court orders banning the protest march from two magistrate
courts. While one court granted an order preventing the protest, the latter dismissed the
request of the Police. The Fort Magistrate in Colombo issued an order prohibiting SJB from
holding the protest as it could cause inconvenience to the pedestrians or vehicular traffic. The
court order also prohibited them from entering the President’s House, President’s Office, the
Finance Ministry or the Galle Face area.On the same day the Colombo Chief Magistrate
dismissed the request made by the police requesting an order to prevent the SJB rally from
entering several roads in Cinnamon Gardens Police jurisdiction.