Gota’s Petition to Block Arrest Over Easter Attacks To Be Heard On Thursday (18)

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Court of Appeal today (17) ordered that the hearing of the writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, be taken up tomorrow.

The petition was called this afternoon before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Sarath Dissanayake.

Earlier in the morning, the petition had been taken up before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

At that time, Justice Priyantha Fernando stated that he would not participate in the hearing of the case due to personal reasons.

Following the recusal of the judge, the case was called again before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Sarath Dissanayake.

The President of the Court of Appeal stated that the petition would be taken up tomorrow to confirm the facts.

When the petition was initially taken up this morning, Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, appearing for the respondents, informed court that she had not yet received instructions from them regarding the petition.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, appearing on behalf of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told court that an interim order was being sought to prevent the arrest of his client.

Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath further stated that the relevant case documents had only been received earlier this morning.

She also informed the Court of Appeal that, in the absence of instructions from the respondents, she was unable to provide an undertaking that the petitioner would not be arrested.