CPA supported the filing of thirteen Fundamental Rights Petitions on 29th June 2011, by conducting research on the issue and supporting the filing of the cases. The subject matter of this case relates to the protest conducted by 50,000 workers and 84 factories on the 24th of May 2011, against the move by the Government to introduce a “Private Sector Pension Benefit Fund Bill” for the workers at Katunayake. The workers protested that this Bill had an adverse impact on their ongoing service.
The Petitioners alleged that the police entered the Free Trade Zone, where the protests were being carried out and severely assaulted the protesters resulting in one death and several injuries. The Petitioners state that the police attacked the workers with baton charge and tear-gas.
The cases were supported in March 2012 and the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed under Articles 11, 12(1), 13(1) and 14(1)b. These cases are presently pending before the Supreme Court.
Case details are as follows:
1) H.M.M Sampath Kumara Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 265/2011
2) Rohitha Amarasinghe Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake-SC FR 266/2011
3) Buddhika Athapaththu Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 267/2011
4) Dhanushka Sanjeewa Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 268/2011
5) Anesh Imalka Fernando Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 269/2011
6) N.L.P Iresha Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 270/2011
7) Nissanka Wanigasekera Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 271/2011
8) Jayatissa Rajakaruna Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 272/2011
9) S.P.L Ranjan Lasantha Perera Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 273/2011
10) H.M Lalinda Herath Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 274/2011
11) Pradeep Kumara Priyadarshana Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 346/2011
12) Nalin Sanjaya Jayatilleke Vs. Officer in Charge of Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 347/2011
13) Sameera Chandaruwan Hettiarachchi Vs. Officer in Charge if Police Station Katunayake- SC FR 348/2011