Two Supreme Court Judges decline to hear FR petitions in connection with the Easter Sunday suicide attack.

November 16, 2021

Two Supreme Court Judges today recused themselves from hearing the twelve Fundamental Rights petitions filed in connection with the Easter Sunday suicide attacks. When the twelve Fundamental Rights petitions came up before a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, and Justice Gamini Amarasekara declined to hear these petitions citing personal reasons. Accordingly, the Supreme Court re-fixed the petitions for argument on March 14 next year. Through these petitions, several petitioners, including Sri Lanka Bar Association, are requesting a directive to prosecute those directly or indirectly responsible for terrorist attacks. They are also claiming compensation for the victims of the terrorist attacks. On October 2, 2019, Supreme Court decided to grant leave to proceed in terms of Article 12(1) of the constitution against former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando. The Attorney General does not represent former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe since they do not hold such positions. The Chief Justice had nominated a fuller bench comprising seven judges of the Supreme Court to hear several Fundamental Rights petitions filed over the Easter Sunday attack. Petitioner Saman Nandana Sirimanne, the father of late Medha Sathsarani Sirimanne, 21, and late Imesh Thiwanka Sirimanne, 19, who met an untimely death at the explosion that took place on April 22, 2019, at Shrine of St. Anthony Church, Kochchikade filed an FR petition seeking an order to investigate and prosecute those who directly or indirectly connected to terrorist attacks.

Two Supreme Court Judges decline to hear FR petitions in connection with the Easter Sunday suicide attack.

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