• AG gives undertaking before the Court of Appeal
• AG gives a similar undertaking in respect of JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The Attorney General today gave an undertaking before the Court of Appeal that the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission on Political Victimisation (PCoI) will not be implemented against former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.
Additional Solicitor General MilindaGunatilleke appearing for the Attorney General informed that the PCoL recommendations in respect of former Prime Minister will not be implemented until the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry makes an appropriate decision.
The Attorney General gave this undertaking when a motion filed on behalf of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe came before the Court of Appeal three-judge-bench comprising Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, Justice M. T. M. Lafar and Justice D.M. Samarakoon.
Former Prime Minister is seeking an order suspending the summons issued on him by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to implement recommendations and decisions made by the PCoI appointed to inquire into incidents of political victimisation.
President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha appearing for Ranil Wickremasinghe challenged the legality of the decision to summon his client before the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry. The Court of Appeal reserved its order for April 6 regarding this application.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General gave a similar undertaking in respect of an application made by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In his original application (writ petition), the former Prime Minister is seeking an order staying the operation of finding and recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe incidents of political victimization.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe is seeking an Interim order suspending the operation of the findings and recommendations contained on pages 17-51 of the commission report relating to the petitioner.
Wickremasinghe had cited the commissioners of the Presidential Commission retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, retired Court of Appeal Judge Chandrasiri Jayatilake and former IGP Chandra Fernando, Commission Secretary Pearl Weerasinghe and Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera as respondents.
Wickremasinghe states that on or about 4th September 2020 he attended the Presidential Commission and was informed by the Commission that he was not being treated as a respondent, but only as a witness. The petitioner said he believed that no findings and recommendations would be made against him.
However, the petitioner said the Presidential Commission report contains findings and recommendations or materials about the petitioner.
Former Prime Minister said that there has been a complete violation of the rules of natural justice and no proper hearing has been given to him during the Presidential Commission inquiry.
He further alleged that no proper rules of natural justice have been followed during the inquiry. He alleged that findings and material collected against him are unreasonable, irrational and arbitrary.
