Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s petition seeking an order preventing his arrest in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks was deferred by the Court of Appeal until tomorrow (18).
The petition was taken up today before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.
At the outset of proceedings, Justice Fernando informed court that he would not participate in the hearing due to personal reasons.
Appearing for Rajapaksa, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva sought an interim order restraining authorities from arresting his client in relation to the Easter Sunday investigations.
Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, appearing for the respondents, told court that the relevant case documents had only been received earlier in the day and that she had not yet obtained instructions regarding the petition.
She further informed the court that, in the absence of such instructions, she was unable to provide an undertaking that the petitioner would not be arrested.
Following submissions, Court of Appeal President Justice Abeysooriya directed that the petition be called tomorrow for the purpose of confirming the facts relating to the application.
Accordingly, the petition is scheduled to be taken up tomorrow before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Sarath Dissanayake.
