AG tells SC: No plans to arrest Harin until July 14

The Attorney General today gave an undertaking that Parliamentarian Harin Fernando will not be arrested until the 14th of July this year. When the Fundamental Rights petition filed by Harin Fernando came up before a three-judge bench of the  Supreme Court headed by Justice S. Thurairaja, the Attorney General assured the court that the petitioner Harin Fernando will not be arrested until the matter is taken up for support on July 14. Harin Fernando had filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking an order preventing police from arresting and detaining him in connection with the Easter Sunday attack. President's Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for Harin Fernando. Harin Fernando has named CID Director, Inspector General of Police, Minister Sarath Weerasekara and the Attorney General as respondents. The petitioner stated he has been questioned in respect of a comment he made at a press conference on April 21, 2019. He said the motive behind the statement he made was to alert the public to the fact that though the authorities appeared to be unaware of the attack, his father who was of advanced age and who was seriously ill and hospitalized in the ICU had information of the attack. Harin Fernando said the real purpose of the imminent arrest and detention is to silence and punish him for his speeches in Parliament and opposition to the government.