Ranil petitions CA to strike down findings of Political Victimisation Commission

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday filed a petition in the Court of Appeal against the Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe incidents of political victimisation.

The UNP leader filed the petition seeking for the recommendations made against him by the Commission to be made void.

He has requested the court to call for and examine the record or report of the Commission of Inquiry and also issue an interim order until the final decision on the petition. 

Retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, the Chairman of the Commission and other commission members retired Appeal Court Judge D.C Chandrasiri, former IGP Chandra Fernando, Pearl K. Weerasinghe and Dr. P.B. Jayasundera have been named as respondents in the petition.

The Presidential Commission has recommended prosecuting the 22 members of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the previous government, which was chaired by Wickremesinghe. 

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rauff Hakeem, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, TNA leader R. Sampanthan, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a former member of Parliament Jayampathi Wickremeratne, Attorney-at-law J.C. Weliamuna, former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department Shani Abeysekera and Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department Thusith Mudalige served on the Anti- Corruption Committee.

The former PM’s petition was submitted by the Vidanapathirana Associates.