Visa-style registration for Maradana Tamils

        
   
  Maradana Police have reportedly introduced a visa-style registration for the Tamil nationals living or staying in the area under its purview.

The period of stay for the applicants under this system will be decided by the police, it is alleged.

The relevant application calls for all personal information.

The nearby Mutwal Police have issued a different application, which requests applicants to furnish even their caste and personal banking particulars, including the balance maintained.

All these were revealed at the Supreme Court today (Feb. 13th) by attorney M.A. Sumandhiran, who appears for the Ceylon Workers Congress in a petition filed against the mass arrest and detention of Tamil nationals. He submitted copies of the police application forms issued to the Tamils of Maradana and Mutwal, and called them unlawful and a serious violation of human rights.

When the SC inquired from the Attorney-General on this, Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando said his department was unaware of such requirements.

After considering all submissions, the SC ordered the appointment of a committee of inquiry, comprising representatives of the AG, the DIG of Colombo and the Justice Ministry Secretary, to inquire into the charges.

The court also ordered that the Defence Secretary and the IGP be informed of the measure.

Attorney Sumandhiran claimed that 92 Tamils are presently in police custody after their arrests in Colombo and suburbs.

The SC ordered the police to release or file action against these detainees after speedy investigations, and fixed March 04th as the date for the next hearing.