JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva says protesting court rulings with marches or black flags is nothing short of contempt, warning that Sri Lanka’s judiciary won’t hesitate to punish anyone from villagers to former Presidents, if they cross the line.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva declared that raising black flags or marching against a decision handed down by a court amounts to contempt of court and could carry legal consequences.
Addressing the media in Colombo, Silva made these comments in response to the imprisonment of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He stated that Wickremesinghe was arrested by the CID following an inquiry into the misuse of public funds, produced before the Magistrate’s Court, and subsequently remanded after both sides presented their arguments.
Silva stressed that the matter has nothing to do with the JVP and that no one should make it an unnecessary issue. He noted that this is simply how the law works: courts weigh the evidence and either grant bail or continue detention.
He argued that marching in protest of a court ruling or raising black flags insults the judiciary and expressed confidence that the legal profession will also act to punish such actions as direct attacks on the independence of the courts.
Silva further stated that Sri Lankans believe the law should not only apply to ordinary citizens who steal coconuts or jackfruit but must extend equally to Presidents and Inspector Generals of Police. He emphasized that if Presidents are allowed to obstruct the implementation of the law, those at the highest levels of government will continue to act with impunity, unafraid of breaking the very laws they are sworn to uphold.
