Supreme Court frees SLRC official

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 18:50 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court today ordered the release of Benedict Ronald Sri Kanth Administrative Officer of the Vavuniya Branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, who is presently under detention.

The fundamental Rights application of the petitioner was filed through Attorney at Law Gowry Shankary Thavarasa and supported by Senior Counsel P.Sivaloganathan.

State Counsel Allan David indicated to Court that the Attorney General had no objection to the release of the petitioner.

Senior Counsel P.Sivaloganathan submitted that the petitioner was taken into custody by the police on June 11, 1999 without assigning any reason

He had been serving as an Administrative Officer of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Vavuniya branch since January 1995.

Mr.Sivaloganathan further submitted that the petitioner in his affidavit had stated he had not acted in any manner prejudicial to national security or to the maintenance of public order.

The Bench comprised Justice Dheeraratne Justice Wadugodapitiya and Justice Weerasekera.