Shalika Grounds cancellation:

JO to institute legal action against SLTB

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Joint Opposition (JO) has decided to take legal action against the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) for cancelling the reservation of Shalika Grounds, Narahenpita, the selected venue of the JO to commence its May Day procession.

The Joint Council of Trade Unions on behalf of the JO had paid Rs.12,500 to the SLTB and reserved the Shalika Grounds on March 8. However, the SLTB in a letter to the JO on Thursday (April 21) had notified its inability to provide the grounds, JO sources said.

The JO has already informed politicians, supporters and the Joint Council of Trade Unions to assemble at the Shalika Grounds to commence the JO’s May Day procession.

The police had given tentative approval for the route and the venue of the rally. “ However, we are now inconvenienced due to the sudden cancellation by the SLTB,” sources said.

UPFA Matara District MP and JO frontliner Dullas Alahapperuma said the sudden cancellation of the venue was not in good taste.