FR petition filed by father of terror attack victims against IGP, ex-defence sec. fixed for May 21

A fundamental rights petition against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando for failure to avoiding the Easter Sunday attacks following prior warnings is to be heard at the Supreme Court on May 21.

A father who lost his children  Medha Sirimantha and Imesh Sirimantha in the explosions at the St. Anthony's Church in Kotahena had filed the petition seeking legal action be taken against the two state officials under the Penal Code.

The case wil be heard before a three-member judge bench comprising Justices Prasanna Jayawardena, Murdu Fernando, and E.A.G.A. Amarasekara at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, summons were re-issued on the IGP and the former Defence Secretary who have been named as respondents in the petition after they had failed to appear before court during today's hearing.

The State Counsel today (May 08) informed court that the Attorney General would not be appearing on behalf of the respondents. The Attorney General too has been named as a respondent in the case.

The petitioner had claimed that IGP Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Fernando had failed to prevent the Easter Sunday carnage which claimed the lives of 359 persons while injuring 500 others.

Accordingly, the petitioner had requested the Supreme Court to issue an order directing the Attorney General to take legal action against these two individuals.