DA Rajapaksa museum case Gota challenges HC order

By S.S.Selvanayagam  
Court of Appeal yesterday directed former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-issue notices on the respondents in connection with his writ petition challenging the order of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum Case.

The Bench comprising Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeysekere fixed the matter for March 26.   

The petitioner cited sitting judges of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, Sampath Abhayakoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne and the Attorney General as respondents.  

Romesh de Silva PC with Ali Shabry PC, Sugath Caldera, Ruwantha Cooray and Harith de Mel instructed by Sanath Wijeyawardane appeared for the petitioner while Senior Deputy Solicitor General Milinda Gunatilleke, Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera and State Counsel Uthara Karunatilake appeared for the Attorney General.   

The Trial-at-Bar had overruled the preliminary objections raised by Mr. Rajapaksa and the six others who stand accused in the case.  

The petitioner seeks Court to quash the order made by the HC on February 20 rejecting his plea made under the terms of the Judicature (Amendment) Act No. 9 of 2018.  

He says the sitting judges did not give him an opportunity to be heard prior to making the order.