Aluthgama victims seek legal redress

Thursday, 17 July 2014 01:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Five fundamental rights applications have been filed at Supreme Court about the recent riots in Aluthgama, with petitioners pleading court that they were not granted the equal protection of the law. Three petitions were filed on Tuesday, while two more were filed yesterday.

The petitions cite the IGP and the Special Task Force as respondents in the cases. The Fundamental Rights petitions have been filed under Article 12 (1) and (2) of the Constitution that guarantees all persons equality before the law and equal protection of the law and stipulates that no citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex, political opinion, place of birth or any one of such grounds The petitioners have also cited Article 14 (1) (e) and (g) of the Constitution that stipulates that every citizen is entitled to the freedom, either by himself or in association with others, and either in public or in private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching; and the freedom to engage by himself or in association with others in any lawful occupation, profession, trade, business or enterprise. Meanwhile, 85 complaints were lodged at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka yesterday, by victims of the Aluthgama riots. (DB)