The Attorney General’s Department today informed the Supreme Court that it has given instructions to the CID to conclude investigations against Minister Harin Fernando in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.
The CID had commenced an investigation against Harin Fernando regarding a statement he had made saying that his father had warned him about an impending terrorist attack on Easter Sunday.
Harin Fernando had filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing police from arresting him in connection with the Easter Sunday attack.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris, appearing for the Attorney General, informed the court that the Attorney General has given instructions to the Special Investigation Unit of the CID to conclude the investigation after perusing the investigation notes against Minister Harin Fernando.
On a previous occasion, the Attorney General gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that Harin Fernando would not be arrested regarding this incident.
This petition is to be taken up for support on September 18.
In his petition, Harin Fernando further sought an order preventing police from taking any steps to detain him in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.
Fernando 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 totally unaware of the attack, his father, who was of advanced age and who was seriously ill and hospitalised in the ICU, had information about the attack.
The petitioner further stated that he has given evidence to the Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks.
He stated that neither the CID nor the Commission of Inquiry had any reason whatsoever to suspect the petitioner of any involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks.
The petitioner stated that there is no allegation whatsoever that the petitioner was in any way or manner responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks.
The petitioner said that he has in the recent past severely castigated the government, in particular over the Easter Sunday attacks. He said on April 20, 2021, he made another sharp speech in parliament criticising the government and its leaders for the Easter Sunday attack, and there was a commotion in parliament subsequently.
Fernando said that, subsequent to his speech, a number of government parliamentarians and organisations linked to the government have requested the CID investigate the petitioner and take criminal action against him. The petitioner further said that he was reliably informed by several people that he would be arrested and detained under the provisions of the PTA. He stated that on hearing that he would be arrested and detained under PTA, he developed severe chest pains and was admitted to Nawaloka Hospital on April 22, 2021.
