SLRC takeover FR petitions to be heard in June 2020

• SC fixes 10 June 2020 for hearing petitions
• Two petitions filed challenging President’s actions of bringing SLRC under Defense Ministry

By Manopriya Gunasekera

The Supreme Court will take up for hearing two Fundamental Rights petitions seeking to nullify the President’s Gazette notification bringing the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) under the Ministry of Defence on 10 June next year.

One petition has been filed by civil society activists Ven. Dambara Amila Thera and Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara, while the other is by United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe and civil society activist Saman Rathnapriya.

The petitioners state that the Gazette notification dated 9 September, issued by the President which brought the SLRC under the Ministry of Defence is illegal.

The petitioners claim that they believe the actions of the President are a gross abuse of presidential power and had been taken purely for political gain, especially in light of the upcoming Presidential Election.

The bench comprised Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, PC, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Murdu Fernando, PC.