News
Court of Appeal reserves order on Lawyer Hizbullah’s bail application till Monday
By Chitra Weerarathne
The Court of Appeal yesterday (02) reserved for Monday the order in respect of the application for bail filed by Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah.
The application says Hizbullah was under detention before being indicted in the High Court of Puttalam and remanded. He has been refused bail by the High Court of Puttalam and consequently he has appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Romesh de Silva, President’s Counsel who appeared for Hizbullah, told the Court of Appeal that his client had been in remand for over two years without a reasonable allegation to go through such an ordeal.
The Attorney General on 20 January said he would not object to bail for Hizbullah. The Court of Appeal then conveyed to the High Court of Puttalam that the AG had consented to bail. But up to now Hizbullah has been in remand.
It was argued that he had been baselessly accused of holding Arabic Classes for children in Puttalam. He has also been falsely connected to the attempt to bomb the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, in April 2019. But what had happened was the suspected bomber had been a client of Hizbullah.
President’s Counsel, Romesh de Silva told the Court of Appeal that the Prevention of Terrorism Act, did not prevent the Court of Appeal from granting bail. The Attorney General had consented to bail.
The Counsel stressed that Article 15 (2) of the Constitution granted unlimited powers to the Court of Appeal to grant bail. The sovereignty was in the people according to Article (3) of the Constitution. The legislature should not encroach on the judiciary since the sovereignty was in the people. The powers of the Court of Appeal to revise was inherent, he said.
Romesh de Silva appeared with Niran Anketell, Vasantha Kumar Niles, Harith de Mel and Shanaka Cooray, instructed by Sanath Wijewardene Associates. Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya PC appeared for the Attorney General. The Bench comprised Justice Menaka Wijesundera and Justice Neil Iddawela.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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