President Wickremesinghe should be released from FR petitions again Easter Sunday attacks: Counsel informs SC

By Yoshitha Perera 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe should be released from the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against him over Easter Sunday coordinated terror attacks,  Counsel Suren Fernando appearing on his behalf of the President said the Supreme Court today.

He informed the Court that under the provisions of the Constitution President has immunity and even the Attorney General could not be named to represent his client.

Mr. Fernando insisted that his client be released from these FR Applications immediately.

Meanwhile, President's Counsel Faizer Mustafa appearing on behalf of former President Maithripala Sirisena informed the Court that his client opposed removing President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been already named as a respondent in FR petitions. 

However, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Priyantha Navana, speaking on behalf of the Attorney General, stated that immunity does extend to former Prime Minister and current President Ranil Wickremasinghe.

Twelve FR petitions pertaining to the Easter Sunday Attacks were heard yesterday and today before a fuller bench of the Supreme Court in order for the petitioners and relevant parties to state their position on the continuation of these Applications against President Ranil Wickramasinghe upon his assumption of office as President of Sri Lanka.

The hearing was refixed for August 2 and rest submissions related to matter will be taken up on that day. 

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, judges Buwaneka Aluvihare, L.T.B. Dehideniya, Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairajah, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Shiran Gooneratne comprised the Supreme Court's seven-judge bench.