Easter Sunday attacks Maithripala noticed to appear in court as a suspect

• The complainants maintained that they compelled to invoke court’s jurisdiction by way of a private plaint demanding justice for the victims who died and were injured in the Easter Sunday attacks

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued a notice directing former President Maithripala Sirisena to appear in court on October 14 in connection with a private plaint filed relating to Easter Sunday attack incidents. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage decided to name former President Maithripala Sirisena as a suspect of the private plaint filed as per the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Act.  

Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando and Jesuraj Ganeshan, a victim of Easter Sunday attack, had filed a private plaint urging to take legal action against the former President under section 298 of Penal Code for causing deaths by negligence. The complainants alleged that former President Sirisena is responsible for causing the death of a number of persons by doing a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide since he functioned as the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Law and Order at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks took place.
The complainants stated that Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on the 2019 Easter bombings had recommended that criminal proceedings be instituted against former President Maithripala Sirisena. They alleged that the Attorney General has so far failed to take necessary legal action against the former President as per recommendations made by the Presidential Commission.

The complainants maintained that they compelled to invoke court’s jurisdiction by way of a private plaint demanding justice for the victims who died and were injured in the Easter Sunday attacks.
In terms of section 136(1)(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, proceedings in a Magistrate’s Court can be instituted on a complaint being made orally or in writing to a Magistrate that an offence has been committed which such court has jurisdiction either into or try.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne with counsel Thejitha Koralage, Udara Muhandiramge and Thilina Punchihewa appeared for the complainants.

• The complainants maintained that they compelled to invoke court’s jurisdiction by way of a private plaint