Court issues restraining order preventing JO MPs protesting in Hambantota

The Hambantota Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued a restraining order preventing protests by MPs of the Joint Opposition planned for today in the area.

Following a request from the Hambantota police, Hambantota Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne issued an injunction restricting MPs Namal Rajapaksa and D.V. Upul from entering the vicinity of the Hambantota Port, Indian Consulate and the roads leading to the Hambantota Port today.

The Magistrate also ordered not to block the roads and inconvenience the public.

The Magistrate issued the order considering a request made to the court by ASP Sanath Amarasinghe and Hambantota Police OIC Priyantha Abeysinghe.

The Joint Opposition plans to hold a protest march in Hambantota tomorrow against the Government signing agreements with other countries for the development of the Hambantota Port and Mattala Airport. The JO is planning to protest the handover of the Hambantota Port to China and the alleged sale of the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala to India.

Joint Opposition MP Dullas Alahapperuma said the JO will launch a protest against the Government’s “sinister moves to sell national assets to foreigners for a song.”