20 February 2020 12:07 am
Court of Appeal yesterday (19) fixed the Writ Application to be taken up today (Thursday), filed by interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya in his personal capacity seeking intervention of the Court of Appeal to prevent his imminent arrest.
His Writ Petition yesterday came up before the Bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D Nawaz (President/CA) and Arjuna Obeyesekere.
Court ordered to serve notice on the acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne requesting him to be present in court today. Petitioner cited acting IGP and AG as Respondents. Petitioner states that an officer of the AG’s Department known as Coordinating Secretary has stated that the AG has directed the Petitioner to be arrested.
He maintains that it is against the Law and unlawful to arrest him. He challenges that AG has no power and/ or authority to direct the Police to arrest him. He pleads that the power and/ or authority to arrest him is solely with the Police officer effecting such potential arrest.
He states that he is unaware of any offence that he is alleged to have committed. In the circumstances, he maintains that he cannot be arrested in relation to any conversations recorded between him and Ranjan Ramanayake MP.
Romesh de Silva PC instructed by Sanath Wijewardane appeared for the Petitioner. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Milinda Gunetilleke appeared for the acting IGP. Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appeared for the AG.