SC issues notice on IGP and Ex-Defence Secy.

Thursday, 9 May 2019 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

FR case by father of two children killed in terror attack on St. Anthony’s Church on Easter Sunday

By S.S. Selvanayagam

Supreme Court (SC) yesterday issued notice on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara and the former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando in connection returnable for 21 May Bench comprising Justices Prasanna Jayawardena, Murdu Fernando and E.A.G.A. Amarasekera, issued notice in respect of the Fundamental Rights petition filed by a father who lost two children who died during the Easter Sunday attack at the Shrine of St. Anthony Church, Kochchikade. The children who sustained injuries died on 22 April.

The petitioner Saman Nandana Sirimanne, the father of the deceased Medha Sathsarani Sirimanne (21) and Imesh Thiwanka Sirimanne (19), filed this FR petition seeking an order to investigate and prosecute the IGP and former Defence Secretary under the Penal Code. Even though the two victims were Buddhists, they prefer the place for prayer where not only Catholics but by people of all religions.

Petitioner in his petition states as follows.

The primary objectives of the petitioner is inter alia to constitute in the administrative process whereby a responsible and accountable good governance is put in place and ensure the implementation of the right of equality and equal protection of the law, safe guarding plurality, the rule of law, human rights and social justice. Petitioner states he became aware among others (Cabinet Minister, MPs, several key figures including his eminence Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith) who already made public that an intelligence report has been forwarded to First Respondent of the imminent danger of a planned attack by suicidal bomb organised by an extremist religious group targeting Christian churches and economically vital places among the city.

First and Second Respondents had received an intelligence memo about possible bomb attacks being planned by Mohamed Zahran, the leader of an extremist group called ‘Thowheed Jamath’.