The judgement on the writ petition filed by Deshabandu was further delayed

The pronouncement of the judgement in a writ petition filed by Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon challenging the magisterial inquiry and issuance of summons against him was today further postponed to June 26 by the Court of Appeal.   On January 26, the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court issued a summons to Deshbandu Tennakoon to appear before the court on February 16 over a criminal accusation that he had allegedly aided and abetted to commit criminal breach of trust with regard to Rs. 17.8 million recovered by protesters inside the President's House on July 9.   The order regarding this petition was to be delivered today (23). However, the Court of Appeal decided otherwise and fixed the order for Monday (26).   The Court of Appeal had earlier issued an interim order suspending the operation of the summons issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate against Western Province Senior DIG Deshbandu Tennakoon.   According to this order, the Magistrate had been prevented from taking any steps, including requiring Senior DIG Tennakoon to stand in the dock.   Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage decided to name Senior DIG as an accused in a private plaint filed by activist Mahinda Jayasinghe as per the provisions of Section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.   Senior State Counsel Shamindra Wickrema appeared for Magistrate Thilina Gamage. President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for Deshabandu Tennakoon.