Citing ongoing investigations, the state objected to a plea from lawyers of Ven. Uvathenne Sumana Thera, Chief incumbent of the Sri Bodhirajaramya, to release him.
The objections from Senior State Counsel Riyaz Hamza came when the fundamental rights petition filed by the thera, who was arrested days before the January 26 presidential election, was taken up for hearing by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Hamza moved for time to obtain instructions to inform court of the outcome of the investigation.
The chief monk was arrested following the detection of a cache of weapons in his Maligawatte temple. His lawyer J. C. Weliamuna argued the arrest and the continued detention of the chief monk by the Criminal Investigations Department were illegal.
Ven. Sumana Thera cited OIC Criminal Investigation Division Chandana de Silva, Commanding Officer Police Task Force D.B.U. Kodithuwakku, the Director CID, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Attorney General as respondents.
Mr. Weliamuna said the CID officers’s claim that they had found 56 hand grenades in two fertilizer bags under his client’s bed sounded ridiculous. The officers had also claimed they found cannabis and a cyanide capsule in the raid on the temple.
Mr. Weliamuna stated the raid was planned because the petitioner who supported President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the election held in 2005, switched his support to the opposing candidate General Sarath Fonseka at the Presidential election.
The petitioner said he was an organizer for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, but had changed affiliation due to the malpractice and corruption of the existing regime. He said he carried out a campaign against the regime by organizing a meeting at the Vihara Mahadevi Park attended by several monks and dignitaries.
The petitioner stated his arrest was malafide, arbitrary, unreasonable, and unlawful and violated his fundamental rights. He added the officers had brought the fertilizer bags with them when they raided the temple.
The petitioner requested Court to release him from custody until a final determination was made.The Supreme Court bench comprising Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake Justices Jagath Balapatabendi and Chandra Ekanayake listed the case to be heard on June 2. |
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