A Fundamental Rights petition was filed in the Supreme Court yesterday seeking the annulment of a gazette notification issued by the Health Minister including regulations mandating people to be fully vaccinated to be able to enter public places.
The petition seeks to determine whether the imposition of such regulations violates fundamental rights, including equality before the law and freedom of movement.
The petitions were filed by Lecturer in Indigenous Medicine, Open University of Sri Lanka J.A.D. F.M Jayathilake through Attorney at-Law Nuwan Bellanthuda.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Secretary to the Ministry, State Ministers Prof. Channa Jayasumana, Sudarshani Fernandopulle and Sisira Jayakody, Director General of Health Services, Attorney General and 12 others are named as the respondents in the petition.
The petitioner also states that he and his family members were infected with the Covid-19 virus before and were not fully vaccinated.
The petition states that the Health Minister issued a gazette notification on January 25 incorporating regulations mandating that people should be fully vaccinated for entry into public places and that this regulation will take effect on April 30. The petitioner states that getting this vaccine will not prevent contracting the virus and the petitioner points out that the people who received the vaccine also died and stated that this vaccine, which is still under investigation, was imported due to urgent needs.
The petitioner alleges that since the virus could have been treated with indigenous medicine, they lose the ability and the right to do so by making the vaccination compulsory.
Therefore, the petitioner also seeks an interim injunction restraining the issued gazette notification and the respondents from acting accordingly.