Gota’s FR application before Supreme Court today

May 12, 2015, 12:00 pm 

By Chitra Weerarathne

The fundamental rights violation application filed by former Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, will be supported before the Supreme Court today, May 13.

The petition has requested the court to declare the gazette No. 1901/20 of Feb. 13, 2015 ordering the setting up of the Financial Crime Investigation Division null and void.

The petition also requests the court to restrain the respondents, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Cabinet of Ministers, the IGP and the Director CID from taking steps to arrest the petitioner under the FCID regulations. This interim relief is requested till the final determination of this petition which alleges an imminent infringement of the fundamental rights of the petitioner.

The Supreme Court bench will comprise Justice Eva Wanasundera, Justice Buwanaka Aluwihara and Justice Sarath de Abrew.

The petition has added that allegations have been made that the operation of the ship, ‘MV Mahanuwara’ with a floating armoury on seas off Galle, had been illegally conducted at the behest of the petitioner. But, the vessel had been operating in conformity with the United Nations law of the sea convention to track down pirate ships in the seas off Somalia. The petitioner fears that he will be arrested without being allowed to defend himself. The petitioner has denied any unlawful involvement in the lease of two Aircraft by Mihin Lanka. He has also denied corrupt practice in the purchase of MIG aircraft for the Air Force in 2006 and an alleged share manipulation at Lanka Hospital Limited.