Attorney General withdraws move to call judge as witness

Colombo, June 12 (Daily Mirror) - The Attorney General gave an undertaking before the Court of Appeal that an Awissawella High Court judge would not be called as a witness before the Colombo High Court in relation to judicial decisions made in the course of his official duties.

State Counsel Oswald Perera, appearing for the Attorney General, further informed Court that no further steps would be taken to call High Court Judge Sahana Mapa Bandara as a witness. He also undertook that the judge’s name would be removed from the additional witness list upon its amendment.

Three senior legal professionals, Uditha Egalahewa PC, Farman Cassim PC and Senior Counsel Sugath Caldera had filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking urgent intervention to prevent a sitting High Court Judge from being summoned and questioned regarding judicial decisions made in the course of his official duties. They maintained that such action poses a serious threat to judicial independence and the rule of law.

Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, the Attorney General and Awissawella High Court Judge Sahana Mapa Bandara were named as respondents in the petition. 

Taking the facts into consideration, Court of Appeal President Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha K. Fernando decided to terminate the proceeding into the writ petition. 

Dr. Romesh de Silva PC with Ikram Mohamed PC, Manohara de Silva PC, Rohan Sahabandu PC, Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC, Saliya Pieris PC instructed by Sanath Wijewardane Associates appeared for the petitioners.

Chandaka Jayasundera PC appeared for the Awissawella High Court Judge.