The Attorney General today gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that Parliamentarian Harin Fernando will not be arrested until July 14, in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks. When the matter came up before Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising S. Thurairaja, Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe and Justice Mahinda Samayawardena, the Attorney General assured court that the petitioner Harin Fernando will not be arrested until the matter is taken up for support on July 14.
Update:
AG assures Court Harin will not be arrested until July 14
Lakmal Sooriyagoda
The Attorney General yesterday gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that Parliamentarian Harin Fernando will not be arrested until July 14 this year, in connection with the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.
When the matter came up before the Supreme Court three-judge-Bench comprising S.Thurairaja, Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe and Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena, the Attorney General assured Court that the petitioner Harin Fernando will not be arrested until the matter is taken up for support on July 14.
Harin Fernando had filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Police from arresting and detaining him in connection with the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva under the instructions of Counsel Sanath Wijewardane appeared on behalf of Harin Fernando.
Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana appeared for the Attorney General.
In his petition, Harin Fernando further sought an order preventing police from taking any steps to detain him in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.
Fernando has named CID Director Rohana Senaratne, Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickremaratne, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara and the Attorney General as respondents.
Fernando stated he has been questioned in respect of a comment he made at a press conference on April 21, 2019.
He said the motive behind the statement he made was to alert the public to the fact that though the authorities appeared to be totally unaware of the attack, his father who was of advanced age and who was seriously ill and hospitalized in the ICU had information of the attack.
The petitioner further stated that he has given evidence to the Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks. He stated that neither the CID nor the Commission of Inquiry had any reason whatsoever to suspect the petitioner of any involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks.
The petitioner stated that there is no allegation whatever that the petitioner was in any way or manner responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks.
The petitioner said that he has in the recent past severely castigated the government in particular over the Easter Sunday Attacks. He said on April 20, 2021, he made another sharp speech in Parliament criticizing the government and its leaders for the Easter Sunday attack and there was a commotion in Parliament subsequently.
Fernando said subsequent to his speech, a number of Government Parliamentarians and organizations linked to the Government have requested the CID to investigate the petitioner and take criminal action against him.
The petitioner further said that he was reliably informed by several persons that he would be arrested and detained in terms of PTA. He stated that on hearing that he would be arrested and detained under PTA, he developed severe chest pains and was admitted to the Nawaloka Hospital on April 22.
