Pavement trader files FR petition on right to trade

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 February 2008, 13:13 GMT]
One of the owners of pavement stalls demolished or forcibly removed in Colombo city citing security reason by the police, has filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court Friday against the demolition of his stall. The petitioner Werehera Arachchige Palitha of Ragama has cited the Inspector General of Police, Officer in Charge of the Pettah police station, and the Attorney General as respondents, legal sources said.

The petitioner states in his suit that the police had demolished his two stalls used for selling tickets of the National Lotteries Board as a sub-agent since the year 1988 along Mahawattte Road, Colombo.

The instruction given by the IGP, the first respondent was not based on or did not reflect a preceding judgment on a similar case delivered by the Supreme Court.

The police has acted against the order by dismantling and demolishing stalls. Hence the petitioner begs court that his fundamental rights have been violated and requested leave be granted to proceed with the application, the petition said according to legal sources.

Pavement trade in all important towns has been banned by the police due to security reasons.

Stalls of those defy the order are forcibly removed and demolished without any prior notice.