FR withdrawn

6 September 2010 12:25 pm

By S.S. Selvanayagam


Senior Journalist J.S. Tissainayagam’s counsel today moved to withdraw the Fundamental Rights (FR) application filed by his client as he had received a presidential pardon.

The Bench comprising Justices Saleem Marsoof, S.I. Imam and R.K. Suresh Chandra granted permission for the withdrawal of the FR petition.

President’s counsel Romesh de Silva with J.C. Weliamuna, M.A. Sumanthiran and Gehan Gunatillake instructed by Lilanthi de Silva appeared for Mr. Tissainayagam while senior state counsel K.P. Ranasinghe with state counsel Prabodini Munasinghe appeared for the respondents.

Court had earlier granted leave to proceed with the rights violation petition for the alleged infringement of his fundamental rights to freedom from torture, equality and equal protection of the law and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention.

Mr. Tissainayagam had cited Inspector Prasanna de Alwis, TID Director Nandana Munasinghe the Police Chief, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Attorney General as respondents.