Pujith Jaysundara files FR petition at Supreme Court seeking reinstatement

Colombo (News 1st): Inspector General of Police Pujith Jaysundara, who was sent on compulsory leave, filed a fundamental rights petition with the Supreme Court to issue an interim-order against the order which sent him on compulsory leave. In the petition, Jayasundara seeks reinstatement to service and requests the Supreme Court to issue an order citing that his fundamental rights were violated when he was sent on compulsory leave without any valid reason. Acting IGP C.D.Wickramaratne, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, the Attorney General, the Speaker and the Constitutional Council are named as respondents in the case. The IGP has stated in his petition that he was not given an opportunity to attend meetings of the Security Council, on the orders of the President, since last October. He further added that these orders had been conveyed to the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence at the time, Kapila Waidyaratne. The petition further states that the Director of the State Intelligence Services Deputy Inspector General Nilantha Jayawardena was asked to report directly to the President. He elaborates that he was first notified of a potential terrorist attack at the Intelligence Information Coordination meeting held on April 9th. The petition by the IGP further states that he was notified on the matter by Head of State Intelligence Sisira Mendis, via a letter, that also added that 4 senior officers had been reached out to, requesting orders to be carried out. The officers include Deputy Inspector General of the Western Province, Senior Deputy Inspector General of the Organized Crimes Division and Police Special Task Force, Senior Deputy Inspector General of the VIP Protection Division and the Director In-Charge of Terrorism Prevention. He further states in his petition that the Deputy Inspector Generals in charge of the 9 Provinces informed him via phone on the 9th and 10th of April on the daily situations on the ground when discussions were ongoing.