Easter Sunday serial attacks on Churches & Hotels CJ nominates Seven-Judge Bench to hear Petitions

By S.S. Selvanayagam   
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has decided to nominate a seven-judge Bench to hear the fundamental rights petitions filed against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando for the alleged failure to act on the intelligence information in respect of the Easter Sunday Serial Attacks on Churches & hotels on April 21, 2019. The case is to be taken up on July 12.  
The petitions yesterday (6) came up before the Bench comprising Justices B.P. Aluvihara, Sisira J. De Abrew. Of the nine petitions that have been filed so far, five were taken up yesterday.
Additional Solicitor General Farzana Jameel with Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle and Senior State Counsel Induni Punchihewa appeared for the Attorney General. Viran Corea appeared for the respondent, the IGP and Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondent the former Defence Secretary.   
Gamini Perera appeared for the Petitioners Janath S.Vidanage who is the Managing Director of a Travel Company as well as Saman Nandana Sirimanne, the father of the deceased, Medha Sathsarani Sirimanne ( 21) and Imesh Thiwanka Sirimanne.   
Saliya Peries PC appeared for Rev. Fathers Ashok Stephan, Sarath Iddamalgoda and Sherard Jayawardana.   
Faiszer Musthapha PC with Razik Zarook PC, Faiza Markar, Faris Sally, Hejaz Hisbullah and M. Mehran Careem appeared for the petitioner Hilmy Ahamed.   
Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC appeared for BASL. 
The Attorney General had, on May 3, declined to appear for IGP Pujith Jayasundara and DIG of the Special Security Division Priyalal Dasanayake in the fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court, despite the request made by the Director of the Police Legal Division.   
Petitioners claim the inaction/actions of the Respondents constitute Executive and Administrative Action.