Supreme Court dismisses Udayanga’s FR petition

The Supreme Court has refused to proceed with the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed seeking to lift the restrictions imposed on the bank accounts of former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga.

The petition was reportedly filed by the ex-diplomat’s mother-in-law stating that the issuing of a warrant for the arrest of Weeratunga and the suspension of his bank accounts were in violation of his fundamental rights. 

However, the three-member judge bench comprising of Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew and Nalin Perera decided yesterday to dismiss the petition without taking it up for hearing. 

The petition had claimed that the court orders to freeze his bank accounts and the issuing of a warrant for his arrested were obtained in an unlawful manner and that his fundamental rights had been violated through this. 

However, Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda, appearing on behalf of the Attorney general’s Department, pointed out that there is no legal basis to continue hearing the petition.