AG requests SC for a full bench to hear 04/21 petition against IGP and Defence Secretary

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Attorney General requested the Supreme Court today (May 31) to appoint a complete panel of judges headed by the Chief Justice to take up the petitions in which IGP Pujith Jayasundara who was sent on compulsory leave and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando appear as respondents. Attorney General Dappula De Livera made this request when the petition was brought before a panel of judges that included Justices Sisira de Abrew, Gamini Amarasekara and Murdu Fernando. The petition was filed to order the AG to file a case under the criminal law against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando for not taking appropriate action even after receiving intelligence on the 04/21 attack. The petition was filed by a group including the relatives of the victims of the attack. Senior Additional Solicitor General Farzana Jameel who was present at courts for the Attorney General said that since the petition contains facts of national importance that a complete bench of judges has to be appointed. Taking all these matters into consideration the panel of judges decided to forward the petitions to the Chief Justice and call on the petitions once again on June 6th.