President's Cousel Anuja Premaratne yesterday (Sept 5) told court that his client former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando had not received prior warnings of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
During a hearing at the Supreme Court, the lawyer pointed out that intelligence reports and details are directly reported to the President - who is the Minister of Defence, and that such information is not communicated with the Defence Secretary.
The President's Counsel made these submissions when 12 petitions filed against Mr. Fernando and Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara over the failure to prevent the attacks, was taken up for hearing.
The petitions are being heard before a seven-member judge bench headed by the Chief Justice.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
In its first electoral test since taking power, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) fell short of expectations, winning only around 40 % of the national vote in Tuesday’s local government election and falling short of enough seats to gain control of the majority of councils.
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