Counsel tells DC to release President from a Easter attack case
President’s Counsel Ronald Perera appearing for President Ranil Wickremesinghe sought from the Colombo District Court to release his client from the cases filed by one hundred and seven members of the families who were injured, permanently disabled and victimized in the Easter attack seeking compensation for their life and property damage.
Colombo Additional District Judge Mahesha De Silva ordered him to produce written submission through a motion on September 13 regarding this request.
District Judge Mahesha De Silva issued this order after considering the request made by President’s Counsel Ronald Perera to release President Ranil Wickremesinghe from being a respondent in the case under the immunity of a President according to the first sub-constitution of Article 35 of the Constitution.
At a previous occasion, Former President Maithripala Sirisena also made a request to the Colombo District Court to release himself under Presidential Immunity, and the District Court rejected the request. Following that, former President Maithripala Sirisena filed an appeal to the Civil Appellate High Court challenging the order issued by the District Court and the appeal is pending.The case will be taken up again on September 13.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former Director of the State Intelligence Service Nilantha Jayawardena and the Attorney General have been charged in 128 cases.
The lawsuit was filed by the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks against former President Maithripala Sirisena and a group of government officials for neglecting their responsibilities and neglect of duty and demanded compensation.
According to the nature of each complainant, these cases were filed seeking compensation of Rs.10 million and above.
President’s Counsel Shamil Perera appeared for the plaintiffs and a panel of attorneys including Dinesh Vidanapathirana appeared for President Ranil Wickremesinghe. A panel of attorneys including President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha appeared for the other defendants.