Supreme Court Judge Mahinda Samayawardena today recused himself from hearing the Fundamental Rights petitions filed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen.
Justice Samayawardena is the fourth Supreme Court Judge to refrain from hearing these two petitions.
Justice Samayawardena who was a member of yesterday’s bench declined to hear these petitions citing personal reasons.
The Bathiudeen brothers had filed Fundamental Rights petitions in the Supreme Court seeking an interim order to release them forthwith from the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). They had been arrested and detained in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.
Taking into consideration the facts Supreme Court three-judge-bench headed by Justice Murdu Fernando fixed the petition for support on July 8.
Earlier, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Justice Janak de Silva and Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz had also declined to hear these petitions.
