AG given time to file objections on Sooriyarachchi case

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 02:08 GMT]
Avissawella High Court Thursday gave time till April 9 to the Attorney General (AG) to file objection to the bail application of Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, sacked minister of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government. Mr.Sooriayarachchi, a UPFA parliamentarian has been in remand on an allegation that he had misused a state vehicle after being dismissed from the cabinet, legal sources said.

The State Counsel wanted two weeks to file objection when the bail application of Mr.Sooriayarachi came up for hearing first time on April 3. But the High Court Judge Mr.C.M.N.de Silva refused to give two weeks' time but gave two days' time to do so and put off the hearing on April 5.

The State Counsel wanted further time when Sooriyarachchi application came up for second time Thursday. The Judge who gave time to the Attorney General till April 9 to file objection, further said that he would deliver his order on the Sooriyarachchi bail application on that date.

Mr.Sooriayarachchi has sought bail from the High Court as the Kaduwela Magistrate refused to release him on bail on special circumstances, as his court has no jurisdiction to do so for a suspect who was produced under the State Property Act.

Mr.Tilak Marapone, former Attorney General and later a minister in the then UNP government appeared for Mr.Sooriayarachchi.

Meanwhile Mr.Sooriayarachchi Thursday evening attended the parliament when the motion of extending the State of Emergency was being debated.

Mr.Sooriayarachchi during the debate revealed more details about the alleged secret deal struck between some leaders of the SLFP and LTTE during the last presidential election.

However Mr.Geethanjana Gunawardene, Deputy Speaker who was in the chair at that time ordered that the speech made by Mr.Sooriayarachchi on the alleged secret deal should be expunged from the Hanzard, parliamentary sources said.

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