International

Fiat on evictions

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Monday ruled that evictions should not take place unless in accordance with the law and accompanied by a judicial order. The order was issued by a three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice following a fundamental rights application filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives and its executive director Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu on the mass eviction of Tamils from Colombo in June last.

An interim order had already been issued by the Supreme Court. The petitioners argued that evicting Tamils was wrongful, unlawful and illegal and violated the fundamental rights of the evicted. According to the petition, the operations began with police and army officers visiting various lodges occupied predominantly by Tamils and forcing them out.

The evictions were attributed to the IGP’s statement that Tamils could not stay in Colombo without a valid reason. Subsequent to the interim orde, many of those evicted were brought back to their lodging houses. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has expressed regret over the incident.

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