President Ranil Wickremesinghe through his lawyer today informed Negombo District Court that he is entitled to immunity under the constitution in connection with the lawsuits filed by the victims of those who have died and injured during the suicide bomb blast that took place at St Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo.
The victims had filed several lawsuits before Negombo District Court claiming compensation from former President Maithreepala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Chief of State Intelligence Service Nilantha Jayawardhane.
When the cases came up before Negombo Additional District Court Judge Nuwan Tharaka Heenatigala, the defendants were given a final date to file answers.
Attorney-at-law Trevor Fernando appearing for the second defendant former Prime Minister and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Court that his client is the President of the Country and is entitled to Immunity under the Constitution. He moved the court that the cases be laid by against the second defendant in the cases. Counsel Kaushalya Fernando with Nadeesha Perera and Ann Seniviratne appearing for the Plaintiffs informed Court that in the twelve Fundamental Rights Applications filed based on the Easter Sunday Attacks, the Supreme Court is to decide this issue in due course and such determination will have a bearing on these cases presently pending in the District Court.
Taking into consideration the facts, the Court fixed the cases for October 31.
All the other defendants were directed to file their answers after the determination of the Supreme Court.
