Ranil’s writ application: CA issues notice on AG

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued notices on the Attorney General in connection with a writ petition filed by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe seeking a stay order against summoning him before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry proving incidents of political victimisation.

The directive was made by a Court of Appeal three-judge-bench comprising Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, Justice Lafar Thahir and Justice D. M. Samarakoon. They also fixed the petition for support on 02 March.

Appearing for Wickremesinghe, Faiz Musthapa, PC, said that his client had already filed a writ petition seeking the annulment of recommendations made against him by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe incidents of political victimisation. However, the President had again appointed a separate commission to determine how the political victimisation commission recommendations could be implemented. The new commission had summoned his client on 28 February.

Musthapa, PC, said that as his client had filed a writ petition, it was not fair for the Commission to summon him. He urged the court to stay the notice issued by the Commission appointed to determine how the political victimization commission recommendations could be implemented.

Justice Nissanka Bandula said that before they issued an order they needed to question the respondents and thus they asked the AG to appear before the court on 02 March.