Sri Lanka Police Chief, The Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne urged the public to be very responsible while exercising their fundamental rights and refrain from causing damage to government and private property and from disturbing the government and private employees who are legally employed and enjoy those rights within the legal framework.
The IGP issuing a special announcement said the police will always respect the right to free speech, expression and peaceful assembly guaranteed by the Constitution and the police department is taking all possible measures to protect and promote that right of the citizens.
“In implementing this right given by the constitution, everyone has a responsibility not to violate the basic rights of others and should not act against the existing law of the country and act violently to damage state and public property.”
“No police officer who is bound to protect the law of the country under the Constitution can tolerate illegal acts which are carried out under the guise of the right of assembly and expression, in violation of the existing law of the country, acting violently in such a way as to disturb the peace, damaging public and private property.
“Therefore, at this time, all public activists, political leaders and religious leaders are requested to be very responsible while working to enjoy their fundamental rights within the legal framework and refrain from damaging government and private property and obstructing government and private employees who are legally employed,” the Inspector General of Police requested the public.
