Justice Eva Wanasundera today announced that she will be withdrawing from the hearing of the Fundamental Rights petition filed by former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The petition will be considered on May 27 by a bench comprising of Chief Justice K. Sripavan, Justice Priyasath Dep and Justice Rohini Marasinghe.

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa filed a Fundamental Rights petition with the Supreme Court on May 21, seeking an interim order directing the Kaduwela Magistrate to release him from remand custody.

In this FR petition, Rajapaksa cited 45 persons including the ministers of cabinet, police chief N.K. Ilangakoon and the Attorney General as respondents.

He further sought a declaration that all steps taken in consequence of gazette No.1901/20 dated 13.2.2015 on the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) were null and void and had no force or effect in law.