ration Movement” condemns the arbitrary arrest worker from the Free Trade Zone.

The Liberation Movement condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of a 19-year-old worker from the Katunayake Free Trade Zone by the Awariwatta police yesterday. The worker was arrested for allegedly setting fire to the vehicle of a politician and businessman on 9th May 2022. The police did not present any evidence to link him to the cause of the fire.

The Police entered the factory where the worker was employed and made inquiries about the worker. The worker was only informed he was required in relation to an investigation, and as such, he agreed to go to the police station to assist in their inquiry.

The worker visited the police station with a lawyer to ask the police why they were looking for him. At the police station, the police arrested him stating that he was “there” during the incident. The worker repeatedly informed the police that the vehicle which was set on fire had knocked his vehicle and he was present next to the said vehicle to take down the number plate details to report the same to the police. His version of facts was not verified.

The worker also informed the police that he had in fact come on the same day to lodge a complaint about the accident to the Katunayake police, that they had refused to accept the complaint, and instead asked him to go to Gampaha.

The 19-year-old worker was thereafter threatened by the police that if he had not brought a lawyer, they could have been able to settle the matter.

The arrest is viewed in light of the regular targeting of young workers at the Free Trade Zones, in relation to any alleged criminal activity. It is particularly egregious in the current context, as several workers had been part of the spontaneous uprising of workers, who built our economy against those in power and the existing system of governance, and have been subject to intimidation, suppressing their right to protest and freely express their aspirations.

As people asking for a new form of governance, we must condemn state repression of working people. People who earn the dollars that this country depends on having a right to express their dissent. The Liberation Movement stands in solidarity with the worker who has been subjected to arbitrary arrest and all workers who have been engaged in peaceful protests and public expressions of dissent. We also condemn the State for continuing to victimise the young and economically vulnerable amongst us.

Liberation Movement