Gota contests Permanent HC Order: CA defers Petition to support on 6 May

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday deferred the Writ Petition filed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, contesting the Order of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, which is hearing the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case, for May 6.

The Bench comprised Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeysekere.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

The Court of Appeal on 12 March directed the Petitioner Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-issue notices on the Respondents pertaining to his Writ Petition contesting the Order of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, which is hearing the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case.

Petitioner cited sitting judges of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar Sampath Abhayakoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne, as well as the Attorney General, as Respondents.

Romesh de Silva PC with Ali Sabry PC, Sugath Caldera, Ruwantha Cooray, and Harith de Mel, instructed by Sanath Wijayawardene, appeared for the Petitioner.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Milinda Gunatilleke, Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera, and State Counsel Uthara Karunatilake appeared for the Attorney General.

The Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in its Order had overruled the Preliminary Objection raised by the former Defense Secretary Gotabaya and six accused in the said case. Petitioner Gotabaya in his Writ Petition seeks the Court to quash the Order made by the High Court on 20 February, rejecting his plea under and in terms of Judicature (amendment) Act No. 9 of 2018.

He laments that the sitting Judges did not give him an opportunity to be heard prior to the said Order dated 20 February 2019.