The Court of Appeal to constitute a fuller bench to hear President Sirisena's case

The Court of Appeal today decided to hear former President Maithripala Sirisena's writ petition before a fuller bench comprised of five judges of the Court of Appeal.

In his writ application, former President Sirisena challenged the magisterial inquiry and issuance of summons against him in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks in churches and elsewhere.

Court of Appeal President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne announced that a five-judge bench comprising the most senior judges of the Court of Appeal is to be appointed to hear this petition. Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal further ordered to lay by the magisterial inquiry against former President Maithripala Sirisena at the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court.

Filing a motion before the Court of Appeal, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando had earlier sought a fuller or a divisional bench to hear the writ petition filed by former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Faiszer Musthapha PC appeared with counsel Keerthi Tillekaratne and Pulasthi Rupasinghe for the former President. Rienzie Arsekularatne PC and counsel Udara Muhandiramge appeared for Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando.

On October 14, 2022, the Court of Appeal's two-judge bench issued an order postponing a magisterial inquiry against former President Maithripala Sirisena, and a writ petition was accordingly fixed for argument. The Court of Appeal further decided to postpone the magisterial inquiry at Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court for a period of 10 weeks.