Two SC Judges recuse from Easter Sunday attacks FR cases

Two Judges of the Seven Member Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday informed that they were withdrawing from hearing 12 Fundamental Rights petitions filed against the failure to prevent the series of 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

They informed Court that they have taken this decision due to personal reasons.

Justices Priyantha Jayawardena and Gamini Amarasekera have recused from hearing the case.

When the petitions were taken up before a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday, it was fixed for support on March 14 next year.

The Fundamental Rights petitions filed by 12 parties including Fr.Sarath Iddamalgoda were taken up before the Bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Supreme Court Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Murdhu Fernando, L.T.B Dehideniya, S.Thureiraja and Gamini Amarasekera yesterday.

The petitions sought an order from the court to IGP to take legal action against former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and other State Intelligence officials, as well as then President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and members of the then Cabinet for not taking appropriate action to prevent such attacks despite intelligence that Islamic extremists or other extremists were carrying out the attacks.

The petitioners also sought an order from the court stating that their fundamental rights had been violated by failing to take steps to prevent such attacks.