UNP lawyers ready for legal battle on arrests

On Jul 8, 2021

Former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe MP yesterday instructed the party’s legal unit to take immediate legal action against the government’s decision to ban protests and agitations under the Quarantine Act and arresting of political activists, including leaders of political parties participating in them.

The UNP Legal Division had previously stated that under the current Quarantine Laws in Sri Lanka prohibiting protests and arresting those participating in them was not possible.

With the arrest of members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Frontline Socialist Party, Wickremesinghe has instructed the party’s lawyers to seek legal protection for them in courts.The UNP legal division is scheduled to file several fundamental rights petitions in the Supreme Court next week, following instructions from UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.