The government says the state of emergency and curfew were imposed for the sole purpose of protecting peace, public life and public and private property.
The government’s Department of Information said in a statement that the government was committed to protecting the right to freedom of speech and expression, as well as public order and public and private property.
The government has pledged to uphold and promote democratic rights, including freedom of speech and expression, and the right to peaceful assembly and protest. This has been proven in practice for the past two years.
The incumbent President has not used batons, tear gas or water cannons on any peaceful protests or demonstrations since taking office. In some cases, representatives of the protesters were summoned to the Presidential Secretariat to discuss issues and resolve them. The announcement said that a separate area near the Presidential Secretariat had been set aside for protests and demonstrations.
During a protest organized in the Mirihana area on Thursday, March 31, some people behaved in a riotous manner and caused damage to public and private property. Some were injured. Property damage is 39 million rupees. The government emphasizes that the state of emergency and curfew were imposed in accordance with accepted legal provisions for the purpose of safeguarding public life, public order and public and private property.
