Opposition Leader prevented from visiting arrested teachers

By Asiri Fernando

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of lawyers that attempted to inquire into the wellbeing of 44 teachers under arrest were prevented from visiting the suspects by Police officers at the harbour entrance yesterday morning.  

Police officers of the harbour police had prevented a group of lawyers led by MP Premadasa and fellow Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara from entering the harbour premises, stating that the area was a high-security zone.

“What kind of Democracy is this? The Opposition Leader is not allowed to visit teachers who was arrested for protesting?” Premadasa questioned the police officers that blocked his entry.

The Opposition Leader said that under parliamentary privileges, members of parliament can visit detainees, including those held in prison.  

Premadasa also cautioned the police that denying suspects legal representation was a violation of their constitutional rights. The Opposition MPs also questioned why the suspects arrested during a protest opposite the Presidential Secretariat are being held at the harbour police, calling the move irregular. 

MP Bandara charged that the teachers in custody have not been given a change of clothes and questioned the ethics of the police for preventing suspects from getting fresh clothes before they are produced in Court.  MP Premadasa said that he will raise the matter in Parliament as to why members are obstructed from carrying out their duties by the Police. Addressing the press outside the Colombo Port, MP Premadasa stressed that looking into the well-being of detainees and those arrested was his responsibility. “Today, my parliamentary privileges have been violated. They have obstructed me from carrying out my duties as a public representative. If the Opposition Leader is prevented from looking into the well-being of teachers and educators being held, we have to ask ourselves what type of democracy do we have in this country? These lawyers were prevented from meeting the teachers, this raises serious questions about natural justice,” MP Premadasa said.    The SJB urged public officials not to become politicised and be used as tools by the Government to effect retribution against the educators for protesting. Addressing a press conference, SJB MP Rajith Madduma Bandara questioned why the protesters were being detained in the port and by the harbour police.

“Why were they not held at the Fort Police station and given access to legal representation as is their right? The Government is trying to punish the teachers who protested. This is an indication that the Government is moving towards a dictatorship,” MP Madduma Bandara charged.