News
Sirisena’s writ petition to be fixed for hearing today
Easter Sunday carnage magisterial inquiry:
By AJA Abeynayake
A writ petition filed by former President Maithripala Sirisena challenging the magisterial inquiry and issuance of summons against him in connection with the Easter Sunday attack incidents is fixed to be heard today (10).The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench, comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola, on Friday, fixed the petition for support.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has issued notice directing former President Maithripala Sirisena to appear in court on 14 Oct., in connection with a private plaint filed on the Easter Sunday attacks.In his petition, the former President is seeking a writ of Certiorari quashing the order made by Colombo Fort Magistrate, on Sept 16, issuing summons on the petitioner.Former President Sirisena has alleged that the Magistrate failed to exercise his discretion properly in deciding to issue summons.
He has further alleged that the Magistrate issued a notice ordering him to appear before Court, taking into consideration the inadmissible evidence and hearsay evidence relating to the Easter Sunday attacks. The Colombo Fort Magistrate, in issuing summons, had failed to judicially evaluate the legal requisites of a Complaint filed by a private individual, prior to the issuance of summons, Sirisena has argued.
Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando and Jesuraj Ganeshan, a victim of Easter Sunday attack, have filed a private plaint before the Magistrate’s Court urging them to take legal action against the former President, under section 298 of Penal Code, for causing deaths by negligence.
The complainants have alleged that former President Sirisena is responsible for causing the deaths of a number of persons by doing any negligent act, not amounting to culpable homicide, since he functioned as the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Law and Order at the time the Easter Sunday attacks took place.Faisz Musthapha PC with Upul Jayasuriya PC, Senior Counsel Jeewantha Jayatillake, Counsel Hafeel Farisz, Keerthi Thilikerathne, Ashan Bandara appeared for the former President.
Retired SSP Shani Abeysekera, serving the Police Department again, has been appointed to the committee headed by Senior DIG Asanka Karawita, tasked with studying the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
The other members of the team are DIG, CID, Director, CID and Director Terrorism Investigation Division (TID)
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that Abeysekera had been one of the law enforcement officers whose conduct raised eyebrows over the years as regards the failure on the part of the CID to thwart the Easter Sunday attacks.
The National Police Commission approved the reappointment of SSP Abeysekera on contractual basis for one year, with effect from 10 Oct., 2024.
Abeysekera backed Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s presidential election campaign as a member of the retired police collective.
The Rite of Translation of the body of Pope Francis took place in the Vatican on Wednesday (23) morning, led by the College of Cardinals gathered in Rome following his death.
Vatican News reported: “Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, began the liturgical rite in the Chapel of the Casa Santa Marta with a brief prayer for the soul of Pope Francis.
In the opening prayer, Cardinal Farrell thanked God for the 12-year ministry of the late Pope.
“As we now leave this home, let us thank the Lord for the countless gifts He bestowed on the Christian people through His servant, Pope Francis,” he prayed. “Let us ask Him, in His mercy and kindness, to grant to the late Pope an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven, and to comfort with the celestial hope the papal family, the Church in Rome, and the faithful throughout the world.”
The College of Cardinals then led the procession of the coffin through the Vatican’s Santa Marta Square, under the Arch of the Bells, and into St. Peter’s Square.
Over 20,000 people had gathered in the square to pay their respects to the late Pope, erupting into subdued but sustained applause as his coffin was carried up the steps and into St. Peter’s Basilica.
The late Pope’s coffin was placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, and the choir chanted the Litany of the Saints in Latin for the repose of his soul.
Cardinal Farrell then led a brief Liturgy of the Word, which included a reading from the Gospel of John (17:24-26) of Jesus’ priestly prayer proclaiming the love of God for Him and for His disciples.
The rite concluded with the chanting of the Salve Regina, a Marian hynm that begins “Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.”
Members of the College of Cardinals then paid their respects to the late Pope Francis, followed by the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Stockholm Kapila Fonseka concurrently accredited to Estonia presented credentials to Estonian President Alar Karis at a ceremony held in Tallinn, Estonia recently.
Sri Lanka and Estonia enjoy cordial bilateral relations for 29 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1996. The two countries held the first round of bilateral consultations in Colombo in 2024.
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