Any move to evict Tamils is 'infringement of rights': SC

Colombo (PTI): In a ruling that will bring relief to ethnic Tamils, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has said that any move towards preventing Tamil persons from entering or staying in any part of Colombo is an "infringement of fundamental rights".

The Bench comprising of Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, Justices Andrew Somawansa and Jagath Balapatabendi on Monday declared it a violation of rights and said this should not be repeated in future unless in accordance with the law or a judicial order.

The Supreme Court had already issued an Interim Order directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) not to take any steps to evict Tamil persons from Colombo or to prevent them from entering and staying in any part of Colombo.

 

Court terminated the proceedings and restored the status quo after Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando gave an undertaking that no steps of such a nature complained of in the petition would be repeated except strictly in accordance with the law and upon a judicial order, the Daily Mirror reported.

"The Supreme Court did not cite any individual, but upheld that there peoples' rights were violated," said Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the executive director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, which filed the case. Last June, authorities evicted about 400 Tamils from low-priced hostels in Colombo and moved them in buses to the north and eastern regions of the country.