Attorney Suren Gnanaraj stated in the Court of Appeal yesterday (17) that even though the Supreme Court itself has ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena as the Defence Minister and the President
at the time had failed in his duty by not taking adequate steps to prevent the terrorist attack that occurred on Easter Sunday, he is now trying to prevent the implementation of the criminal law against him.
He stated this while requesting permission to present facts regarding an intervening petition on behalf of a victim woman, whose husband died and her two children became deaf as a result of the terrorist attack.
This request was made when a writ petition filed by former President Maithripala Sirisena was called to quash the summons issued ordering him to appear in the Fort Magistrate’s Court regarding the terror attack. Counsel who appeared for the petitioner Sellasamy Premalogini, the victim woman, requested that he be given an opportunity to mediate and present his facts regarding this petition.
He mentioned that a panel of judges of the Supreme Court has already ruled that former President Sirisena, who served as the country’s leader, had failed to prevent the attack. He also mentioned that the Supreme Court ordered him to pay a compensation of Rs.100 million.
In spite of this, he alleged that the former President is trying to avoid the implementation of the criminal law against him in relation to a personal complaint presented to the Fort Magistrate’s Court by submitting this petition.
He mentioned that the decision given with regards to the petition filed by the former President will directly affect his client.
(dailynews.lk)
