News
Easter Sunday case: AG asked to consider consenting to bail for accused in remand for over four years
The Supreme Court has asked the Attorney General to consider consenting to bail for the High Court Trial-at-Bar accused, held in remand for over four years in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The SC said so when two appeals filed by the AG from an order of the Court of Appeal came up. The AG has appealed against the order of the Court of Appeal overruling the preliminary objections of the Additional Solicitor General raised in the Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Murdu Fernando PC, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Priyantha Fernando re-fixed the appeals for argument on 13th October 2023. The appeals related to two accused in the High Court Trial at Bar who had applied for bail from the Court of Appeal under the original jurisdiction provisions vested in the Court of Appeal by Article 138(2) of the Constitution.
Earlier M. M. Zuhair PC, appearing for the two accused, submitted that they had no previous convictions and that four and a half years was an excessively long period of incarceration depriving the accused of a fair trial. He said the Attorney General had unreasonably withheld consent to bail, punishing the accused even before any trial had commenced and violating the presumption of innocence laid down as a fundamental right.
He told the Supreme Court the presiding High Court Trial at Bar Judge had also asked the prosecution at one of the sittings, as to how long more the prosecution was trying to keep the accused in the case in remand!
Additional Solicitor General Harippriya Jayasundara PC appearing for the appellant submitted that it was a case under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and that all 25 accused in the case had applied for bail in the High Court TAB under the PTA Amendment Act of 2022. The High Court refused bail having noted the absence of the AG’s consent to bail. The Addl. SG told Court that instead of appealing to the Supreme Court, the two accused had gone to the Court of Appeal and in the circumstances the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to grant bail.
Justice A. H. M. D. Nawaz queried what the position of the AG on the matter was and how the Additional Solicitor General in the case was taking up that argument when another Additional SG from the same Department was arguing against those submissions, in another case! Justice Murdu Fernando suggested that the AG consider consent to bail and re-fixed the cases.
Jayasundara PC, Additional SG with Akila Dalpathadu SC, Shakthi Jagoda Araachchi SC and Sajith Bandara SC appeared for the appellant.
Zuhair, PC with Rizwan Uvais AAL and Bushra Rizvi Ziyard AAL appeared for the respondents.
Latest News
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
The IMF Executive Board approved emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), providing Sri Lanka with immediate access to SDR 150.5 million (about US$206 million,
equivalent to 26 percent of quota) to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability.
In response to severe weather impacts, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a diving and technical assistance operation on Friday (19 Dec 25) to clear major debris obstructing vital infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River, washed large quantities of debris, including logs and bamboo, downstream. These remain lodged in the Diyakapanathota in Gatambe, Peradeniya and Lewella bridges, obstructing the smooth flow of water.
Acting promptly upon request, a Navy diving team executed a coordinated operation in collaboration with the Road Development Authority. The team removed the accumulated debris, restoring normal water flow through the bridges.
Latest News
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
Navy clears major bridge obstructions in Peradeniya and Lewella
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
Trump says US launched large-scale attacks on ISIL in Syria
Showers will occur in the Eastern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Central provinces and in Polonnaruwa district
PM says govt. will introduce a new Constitution to abolish executive presidency
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Midweek Review3 days agoHow massive Akuregoda defence complex was built with proceeds from sale of Galle Face land to Shangri-La
-
Features6 days agoWhy Sri Lanka Still Has No Doppler Radar – and Who Should Be Held Accountable
-
News2 days agoPakistan hands over 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Lanka
-
News2 days agoPope fires broadside: ‘The Holy See won’t be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices, and fundamental human rights violations’
-
Latest News6 days agoLandslide early warnings in force in the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
-
News3 days agoBurnt elephant dies after delayed rescue; activists demand arrests
-
Features6 days agoSrima Dissanayake runs for president and I get sidelined in the UNP
-
Editorial6 days agoDisaster relief and shocking allegations