Tissainayagam, Jaseeharan, Valarmathi not seeking interim relief from court

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 August 2008, 12:32 GMT]
Counsels for the journalists J.S.Tissainayagam, S.Jaseeharan and V.Valarmathi who have been indicted by the Sri Lankan Attorney General under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations (ER), informed the Sri Lankan Supreme Court Wednesday that they were not seeking any interim relief as their fundamental rights violation applications have been listed for hearing on September 10 and November 14, legal sources said.

The FR petitions, one filed by journalist Tissainayagam and another filed by Jaseeharan and Valarmathi were taken on Wednesday before a three-member bench of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court to decide on the question of providing interim relief to the petitioners till the inquiry into their FR petitions concluded. The bench comprised Justices Shiranee Bandaranaike (chairman) Raja Fernando and Nihal Amaratunge.

Counsels for the petitioners-accused persons submitted that the Supreme Court has already granted leave to proceed with the fundamental rights violation petition for alleged infringement of their fundamental rights.

President's Counsel Romesh de Silva with J.C.Weliamunna, M.A.Sumanthiran and Gehan Gunatilake instructed by Lilanthi de Silva appeared for Tissainayagam.

Counsel J.C.Weliamunna instructed by Ms Gowrishankary Thavarasa appeared for the petitioners Jaseeharan and Valarmathi.

Senior State Counsel K.P.Ranasinghe with State Counsel Prabodhini Munasinghe appeared for the respondents in the petition filed Tissainayagam.

Senior State Counsel Riyaz Hamza appeared for the respondents in the petition filed by Jaseeharan and Valarmathi.

Petitioners have cited Colombo police OIC Prasanna de Alwis, Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID) Director Nandana Munasinghe, the Inspector General of Police, Defense Secretary and the Attorney General as respondents.

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