The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order preventing police from arresting human rights lawyer Achala Seneviratne in connection with the alleged offences committed during a protest organized by Women Rights Organisation on December 4, 2023.
The Court of Appeal issued this order pursuant to a writ petition filed by Attorney-At-Law Achala Seneviratne and this order will be effective until June 19.
The petitioner stated that the OIC of Welikada Police Station had filed a B report before Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court naming the petitioner as the seventh suspect. The Petitioner stated that police filed this B report stating that several flower florae maintained by the authorities valued at Rs.84,000 were damaged. Police further alleged that the damages to the flower plants amount to offence under section 2 of the Public Property Act. The B report further stated that eight women have been identified as suspects by the intelligence information.
In her petition, the petitioner had named OIC Welikada, ASP Nugegoda, IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and the Attorney General as respondents.
Senior Counsel Himali Kularatne appeared for the petitioner. State Counsel Jehan Gunasekara appeared for the Attorney General.
