Gazette on high security zones revoked

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 Complex in Colombo, Magistrate Court Complex in Colombo and Attorney General’s Department, Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters and Police Headquarters, Defence Ministry and Sri Lanka Army Headquarters in Akuregoda, Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters in Slave Island and Prime Minister’s Office at Flower Road.

According to the gazette notification, the Secretary to the Defence 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.