Court of Appeal Defers Hearing on Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Petition Against Arrest

The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today that no instructions had yet been received from the respondents regarding a petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

During the proceedings, Justice Priyantha Fernando announced that he would recuse himself from hearing the case due to personal reasons.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva requested the court to issue an interim injunction preventing the arrest of his client.

Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, representing the respondents, informed the court that the petition documents had only been received this morning and that no instructions had yet been provided by the respondents.

She further stated that, without such instructions, she was unable to give an undertaking to the court that the petitioner would not be arrested.

Following the submissions, the Court of Appeal adjourned further consideration of the petition until this afternoon.