SC allows Ven. Elle Gunawansa Tero to intervene in the FR petition filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando seeking an order preventing police from arresting him in connection with the controversial Sunday sermon was fixed for June 28 by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court permitted Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera to intervene in this petition as an intervening petitioner.

When the matter came up before the Supreme Court, President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, appearing for Elle Gunawansa Thera, submitted that his client was seeking to intervene in order to strongly object to Pastor Jerome being permitted to seek any order from the Supreme Court, preventing his arrest. Jayewardene submitted that his client, together with several other religious leaders, had also filed a case in the Supreme Court previously and that the Attorney General had given an undertaking in that case that full legal action would be taken under the Penal Code and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act against Jerome. He reiterated that if an interim order was given in this new case, the undertaking given in the other case by the Attorney General would be seriously prejudiced.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, appearing for Pastor Jerome Fernando, objected to the intervention. However, the Supreme Court three-judge bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Kumudini Wickremesinghe, and Shiran Gunaratne fixed the petition to be mentioned on July 28.