Magisterial inquiry against Fr. Jeevantha Pieris continues today

By Chitra Weerarathne

The magisterial inquiry into acomplaint against Reverend Father Amila Jeevantha Pieris will continue today before the Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage.

The priest is suspected of having ignored a magisterial order and walked along York Street, Colombo Fort with some Aragalaya protesters.

At the last hearing, Rienzie Arsecularatne, PC, told the Court that the priest was concerned about the poor and therefore had taken part the Aragalaya.

Counsel Arsecularatne also told the Court that his client had never ignored the summons issued on him by the Magistrate. The moment he was made aware of the magisterial summons, he appeared before the Court.

The priest has filed a fundamental rights violation petition in the Supreme Court. When it was called before that Court, the Senior State Counsel Shamindra Wickrama said the priest had not paid attention to the Magisterial summons since May 27, 2022, and that he had come to the Supreme Court to suppress the Magisterial inquiry.

Arsecularatne appeared with Chamindri Arsecularatne for the Fr. Pieris, who is under a travel ban issued by the Magistrate. He was granted bail by the Fort Magistrate.