A priest participating in Sri Lanka’s recent demonstrations has been given bail.
Father Amila Jeewantha Peiris appeared in court on Aug. 12 and was granted bail with two $1,375 sureties.
Ratnapura diocesan priest, 45, joined Colombo protestors due to economic problems.
Police investigated his parents’ house and St Joseph’s Church in Balangoda on July 27.
Fr Peiris petitioned the Supreme Court to avert his detention. 9 August saw a hearing.
During the hearing, Fr Peiris was accused of illegal assembly, hindering public servants, and violence.
Fr Peiris contended that he had not obtained a court order despite what government attorneys said.
Anti-government protests erupted in March 2022. Sri Lankans protest the economic catastrophe, which they blame on government mismanagement.
Sri Lanka’s bishops urged the government to prevent a “failed state” in April.
All subsequent administrations are to blame, the bishops declared.
Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lanka’s prime minister on May 9. Ranil Wickremesinghe was named prime minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 12.
Tens of thousands of protestors stormed Colombo’s presidential palace on July 9, demanding Rajapaksa’s resignation. Wickremesinghe became acting president when Rajapaksa departed.
Although demonstrators stopped occupying public buildings, demonstrations and violence continue as the economic crisis continues.
Amnesty International: “Protesters have a right to demonstrate peacefully”
Sri Lankan authorities react to opposition and peaceful assembly with excessive force, intimidation, and illegal arrests.
Fr Peiris reiterated this on BBC.
“My only worry is that, with these innocent protests, many youths are brutally arrested and being replaced. For that, I really worry, as I’m worried about the lives of our youth and our people, and they are crying for justice, so for that, I’m worried.”