Supreme Court to hear Shani’s FR petitions over arrest in 2021

Colombo, Oct. 8 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with three Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the arrest of former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara and two other former CID officers in 2021.

Shani Abeysekara, along with two former CID officers, Sugath Mendis and Nawarathne Premarathne, filed Fundamental Rights applications challenging their arrest by officers of the Colombo Crimes Division in August 2021.

The three were arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division for allegedly fabricating evidence in the case against former DIG Vaas Gunawardena.

The court heard that the case was fabricated and politically motivated, seven years after the initial discovery of a weapons cache. The weapons cache was discovered following statements made by then DIG Vaas Gunawardena’s assistants during the investigation into the murder of Mohamed Shyam on May 22, 2013.

The bench, comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardena, Priyantha Fernando and Sobitha Rajakaruna, granted leave to proceed with all three petitions and fixed the matter for argument on May 14, 2026.

Counsel Shantha Jayawardena, Shehan De Silva, and Hafeel Farisz appeared for the petitioners. Counsel Sanjeewa Wijewickrema appeared for former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and Neville De Silva while State Counsel Sajith Bandara appeared for the Attorney General.