Hindu priest files FR petition in Supreme Court

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 July 2008, 15:28 GMT]
Chief priest of the Colombo-Grandpass Sri Gnanavairavar Swami Temple Balakrishna Ayer Ravishankara Kurukal filed a Fundamental Rights Violation petition in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court seeking the court order the government to allow Hindus to organize the annual Aadi Amaavaasai (anniversary when children remember their late father) rites along the shore of Muhathuwaaram Sea beach in Colombo without interruption by the security forces. The preliminary inquiry into the FR petition filed by the Chief priest Thursday has been fixed for July 28, legal forced said.



The petitioner in his petition filed through Attorney-at-Law Rajmohan Balendra has cited the defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Sarath Fonseka, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Wasantha Karanagoda, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Roshan Gunatilake and the Attorney general as respondents, legal sources said.

The security forces have banned such religious rites to be performed along shore of Muhathuwaaram this year citing security reasons and erected fence and retention wall preventing people from entering the sea shore.

Several sentry points of the security forces have also been newly established along the sea shore.

Aadi Amaavaasai Day falls on August 1 and Hindus fast on the day and perform religious rites in remembrance of their dead fathers. Hindus reside in Colombo area perform their religious rites along the sea shore of Muhathuwaaram on Aadi Amaavaasai Day annually, the petitioner states in his suit, legal sources said.