Attorney-at-law Gunaratne Wanninayake, who is reportedly being sought for arrest by the police, is preparing to appear before the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court, his lawyer informed the Court of Appeal today (15).
This was informed by President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapha, representing Wanninayake, during a hearing convened to consider a writ petition filed by Wanninayake seeking an order to prevent his arrest.
During the proceedings, Court of Appeal President Justice Rohana Abesuriya stated that the Court could not grant the interim relief requested by the petitioner’s lawyer to prevent his arrest. He added that it would be more appropriate for the matter to be addressed by the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.
The Court of Appeal registry subsequently scheduled a hearing on the progress of the petition for 1:30 p.m. on the same day.
Wanninayake’s writ petition, filed through his lawyers, seeks a preventive arrest order against him. The Inspector General of Police, along with the Galkissa Police Station Inspector and others, have been named as respondents.
The petition alleges that the police were preparing to arrest Wanninayake unlawfully in connection with an incident at the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court, where he was accused of obstructing a police officer in the performance of official duties. The petition requests that the court issue an order preventing his arrest.
In this context, Wanninayake maintains that he has not interfered with police investigations and denies any involvement in alleged unlawful actions. Nevertheless, the Mt. Lavinia Police Station had filed a case against him on 13 October.
