The Court of Appeal fixed the hearing of a writ petition filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando to prevent his arrest in relation to an incident in which he allegedly made a statement insulting religions including Buddhism, yesterday (22).
This was decided when the petition was called up before Court of Appeal President Nishshanka Bandula Karunaratne and Court of Appeal Judge M.A.R. Marikkar.
Facts had been reported to the Fort Magistrate’s Court against pastor Jerome Fernando after there was a huge controversy that he had made a statement insulting Buddhism and other religions during a service. He was already abroad when the court had given permission to the Criminal Investigation Department to arrest him.Ven.Elle Gunawansa Thera had filed a fundamental rights petition at the Supreme Court demanding the arrest of Fernando and Pastor Jerome Fernando had also filed a fundamental rights petition to prevent his arrest. Pastor Fernando then filed a writ petition with the Court of Appeal without mentioning the fundamental rights petitions, which was later withdrawn by his lawyers. Fernando then presented this writ petition back to Court.
Through this petition, he had requested that an injunction order be issued to prevent his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Inspector General or his officers.
President’s Counsel Jagath Wickramanayake appeared on behalf of pastor Jerome while Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrama appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.
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