Prez Ranil immune from prosecution

FR petitions over Easter carnage

By Chitra Weerarathne

Counsel Suren Fernando, yesterday told the Supreme Court that Ranil Wickremesinghe was now the President of the country, and therefore a case could not be argued against him, as a respondent.

Suren Fernando referred to the Fundamental Rights Violation petitions, filed over the Easter Sunday bomb blasts of 21 April 2019.

Referring to these FR petitions, the counsel said that although the Indian Intelligence had informed Sri Lanka of a possible attack on Catholic Churches, by the Islamic extremists, Lankan defence authorities had not paid due attention to the warning.

Among the other respondents cited are the then President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Defence Minister, the then IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, and the then Secretary Defence Hemasiri Fernando.

About 256 persons were killed in several suicide bomb blasts and about five hundred others were injured.

Faizer Mustapaha, PC appeared for Maithripala Sirisena.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, Justice Murdhu Fernando, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice A.L. Shiran Gooneratne.