The Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin says that he has sent a letter of demand to Battaramulla Medical Officer of Health demanding five million as compensation in lieu of damages caused to their reputation. He further stated that he would not hesitate to take legal action if the compensation was not paid.
Mr Joseph Stalin further said that he and other teachers’ union leaders who protested against the Kotelawala Defense University Act were not arrested and that what they did was to forcibly seize him and take him into quarantine illegally. He also stated that
“We were not even given a chance to wash our hands until we were forcibly arrested and taken to court. No PHI came there. At that time the police brought a letter issued by the Battaramulla Medical Officer of Health for the needs of the police. The Director-General of Health does not say in the regulations that there should be no protest. However, this medical officer has issued such a letter to full fill the requirements of the Police and the government. That is the wrong thing to do. That’s why we demanded five million as compensation. “ He further said.
