Courtesy Adaderana

The Supreme Court postponed the hearing of the Fundamental Rights petitions filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernanado and IGP Pujith Jayasundara until July 25.

A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court today commenced hearing the petitions filed by 12 parties against the IGP and former Defence Secretary, claiming that they had violated fundamental rights by failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks.

Attorney-General Dappula Livera informed the court that he is not appearing on behalf of former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who have been named as respondents in the petitions.

The AG stated that he is only representing the Attorney General and DIG (Special Range) B. Dissanayake, who also named as respondents.

The Attorney General stated that he received the objections of certain respondents in the case yesterday morning.

He pointed out that the main respite requested by most of the petitions is to issue an order to commence investigations under criminal charges against the former Defence Secretary and the IGP for failure to prevent the terror attacks.

After considering the facts presented before the court, the seven-judge bench chaired by the Chief Justice ordered the respondents to present if any objections with regard to the peititons before July 18.

The court also ordered to file the counter objections, if any, before July 23.

The petitions will be taken up for hearing once again on July 25 and 26.

The judge bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya also comprised of Justices Sisira de Abrew, Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna Jayawardena, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Murdu Fernando.

The petitions were filed by 12 parties including the Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL), a businessman engaged in the tourism sector named Janak Sri Vidanage and Saman Nandana Sirimanne, a father who had lost his son and daughter in the attack on April 21st.

The petitioners accuse that the IGP and the former Defense Secretary of infringing the fundamental rights of the people by failing to prevent the terror attacks on churches and hotels even when intelligence information had forewarned.