The Inspector General of Police and the Director of the Terrorism Investigation Unit gave a pledge to the Court of Appeal yesterday (24) that they will take necessary legal steps under the existing general law and the Criminal Procedure Code regarding the illegal Mahaviru Samaru (Heroes Commemorations) programmes to be held in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the upcoming days. The pledge was given when a petition was calling for legal action regarding plans that have been made to hold illegal Heroes’ Commemorations in the North-East, including the release of a video urging Tamils to take up arms which has been made using artificial intelligence using a voice similar to that of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s daughter.
State Counsel Shamindra Wickrema, who represented the respondents of the petition, Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Terrorism Investigation Unit and the Attorney General gave this pledge.The petition was called before a panel of judges comprising of Court of Appeal Judges Mayadunne Corea and S.U.B.Karaliyadde. The petition had been filed by Ananda Jayamanna, a retired Military Officer.
The Director of the Army Intelligence Division, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Terrorism Investigation Unit, and the Chief of State Intelligence Suresh Sallay and the Attorney General had been named as respondents.
When this petition was taken up for hearing, President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, who appeared for the petitioner, stated that it has been planned to hold about 50 heroes’
commemorations in the North and East areas from November 27 onwards, on a grand scale. He presented facts that mentioned that as a result of the commemoration of dead LTT members, unnecessary disunity and a destructive situation may arise between the races in the country. A video had been created using a voice similar to the voice of LTTE leader VelupillaiPrabhakaran’s daughter using artificial intelligence, stating that the Tamil people should take up arms, and arrangements have been made to display the relevant video at the heroes’ commemoration programmes. He presented these facts while mentioning that this information has been confirmed by intelligence sectors. He also said arrangements have been made to display the LTTE flag at heroes’ commemoration programmes to be held in other countries while in Sri Lanka the flag will include all its flamboyant colours.
He also mentioned that intelligence agencies have received information that the LTTE flag will be used in the Mahaviru commemoration programmes planned to be held this year. He said further that the intellectuals who died for the rights of the Tamil nations are not being commemorated by any other people and that only the LTTE members who died are being remembered.The President’s Counsel submitted facts that by conducting illegal commemorations of heroes, a lot of trouble and disturbances may arise in the North and East regions.Senior State Counsel Shamindra Wickrema, who appeared on behalf of the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the Terrorist Investigation Unit, stated that he had also received information in this regard.Accordingly, under Section 106 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the existing general law, such illegal hero celebrations will be dealt with, he said. The President’s Counsel, who appeared for the petitioner, said that he was satisfied with the senior lawyer’s pledge and thanked him.The senior state counsel said that no counsel appeared for the other respondents in the petition, the Director of Army Intelligence and the Chief of State Intelligence, and he had not received any advice from them. Accordingly, the Bench informed the petitioner to send notice to them again. The Bench considered the facts and decided to conduct a further hearing of facts regarding the petition on December 1.
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