The court has ordered the hearing of the petition filed by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Nilanthi Kottahachchi and 5 petitioners challenging the police attack on a peaceful protest at the Polduwa junction on January 30, 2025.
They have requested the court to declare that the respondents, including the then Acting IGP Deshabandhu Tennakoon, violated their fundamental rights.
Appearing for the petitioners, President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Achala Vengappuli and Priyantha Fernando informed the three-member Supreme Court bench that the police had filed criminal cases against the petitioners in the Magistrate’s Court in relation to this incident. He also stated that the petitioners would consider withdrawing this application if the police withdraw the criminal case pending against them in the Magistrate’s Court.