By The Pulseline News Desk
Stocks of tear gas held by the Sri Lanka Police have expired due to non-use, Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala has told Parliament, while stressing that the Government respects the public’s right to protest and criticise those in power.
Watagala has said any group was free to organise demonstrations against the Government and that individuals were equally entitled to express criticism of its policies and actions.
“Any group is allowed to stage protests against the Government. Likewise, anyone is free to criticise the Government,” he has said.
The Deputy Minister’s remarks came as he disclosed that police stocks of tear gas had passed their expiry dates, attributing this to the reduced need to use the crowd-control material.
The development comes amid the Government’s position that peaceful protests and public criticism are legitimate democratic rights that should be respected.
Watagala’s statement also highlights a change in the use of crowd-control measures by the police, with existing tear gas stocks expiring without being deployed.
However, he did not disclose the quantity of expired tear gas, its value or whether the Police Department had plans to replenish its stocks.
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