United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that the Director General of Health does not have the power to impose regulations beyond the country's basic law. Speaking to the media today, he noted that his party would file a case in the Supreme Court this week against the arrest and subsequent quarantine of protesters based on an illegal circular. Range Bandara pointed out that although it is possible to impose certain laws and regulations to protect the health of the people under the Quarantine Act, the Director General of Health has blatantly violated the people's constitutional rights on assembly and expression of speech, through his recent circular. He noted that the police had forcibly abducted the protestors and taken them for quarantine against their will, whereas according to the provisions of the Quarantine Act, only those who have been directly exposed or who are close associates of an infected person could be directed for quarantine.
Update:
DGHS cannot act beyond country’s basic laws - UNP
SHIROMI ABEYSINGHE
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) does not have the power to impose regulations beyond the country’s basic law.
Speaking to the media yesterday, he noted that his party would file a case in the Supreme Court this week against the arrest and subsequent quarantine of protesters based on an illegal circular.
Range Bandara pointed out that although it is possible to impose certain laws and regulations to protect the health of the people under the Quarantine Act, the Director General of Health has blatantly violated the people’s constitutional rights on assembly and expression of speech, through his recent circular. He noted that the police had forcibly abducted the protestors and taken them for quarantine against their will, whereas according to the provisions of the Quarantine Act, only those who have been directly exposed or who are close associates of an infected person could be directed for quarantine.
However, he pointed out that no such infected person was found at the protest or even a close associate of anyone who was infected, adding that it was under such a situation that Joseph Stalin and others were taken forcibly for quarantine.
The UNP General Secretary said that the Supreme Court had convicted Dayananda Liyanage of enforcing an erroneous order issued by the OIC in a case and that the police officers should understand what the verdict was and whether it was a legal order prior to executing it.
He further stated that the police officers who act on the circular issued by the Director General of Health in violation of the Constitution are requested to act as they see fit as they may be found guilty in Court.
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