Cabinet Spokesman Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma has strongly refuted allegations that the government intervened to suppress the protest organized by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
Speaking during the weekly Cabinet decisions media briefing at the Department of Government Information Minister Alahapperuma said the present administration is the only government that has allocated space opposite the Presidential Secretariat to stage protests.
He said all workers in the health sector made a common request that large gatherings are a violation of health guidelines at present, and may lead to a critical situation in the pandemic.
The Minister added therefore the government didn’t take any steps to intervene and stop or sabotage the protest.
Meanwhile, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Udaya Gammanpila said the 15th Article of the Constitution clearly states that the government has the authority to limit fundamental rights, to safeguard public health.
Minister Gammanpila stressed decisions and regulations of the Director General of Health Services overrides powers of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers while dealing with a health emergency.
(newsradio.lk)
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