INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Gazette Extraordinary issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has revoked the High-Security Zones declared in parts of the Colombo
District under Official Secrets Act.Accordingly, Colombo District will have no high-security zones with effect from 01 October 2022.On
September 23, President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring several areas as High-Security Zones in the Colombo
District.The High-Security Zones declares within the Colombo District are as follows: Parliament Complex, Supreme Court Complex, High Court
Lanka Navy Headquarters and Police Headquarters, Defence Ministry and Sri Lanka Army Headquarters in Akuregoda, Sri Lanka Air Force
Ministry was named as the competent authority for the implementation of these orders.It read that no person will be allowed to conduct or
hold a public gathering or procession on a road, ground, shore or other open area located within the High-Security Zones without the prior
permission of the Inspector-General of Police or the Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province.It also noted that construction of a
building, a temporary or permanent construction or an excavation within High-Security Zones will be allowed without the permit obtained from
the competent authority for the said purpose in addition to the legal requirements which should be fulfilled by the person who intends to
perform the aforementioned activities.As per the gazette notification, each permit should specify the terms and conditions and the said
construction or excavation should be performed subject to the said terms and conditions
In addition, it also barred the parking of vehicles within High-Security Zones unless reserved for parking by the competent authority or
under the power of a permit issued by an authority.The gazette notification sparked controversy and attracted criticism from many including
the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL).Several fundamental rights (FR) petitions were
also filed before the Supreme Court, challenging the declaration of high-security zones.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
