Sunday Leader fundamental rights case

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2000, 10:05 GMT]
The editor of the Sri Lankan English weekly "Sunday Leader", Lasantha Wickrematunge has filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court challenging the ban imposed on his newspaper. The application was filed by him through his counsel G.G.Arulpragasam.

In his application he has stated that though the competent authority had prohibited the publication of the weekly for a period of six months from 22 May 2000 to 21 November 2000, the order is null and void in law.

The application seeks an order that the prohibition on the publication of the "Sunday Leader" is null and void, and a declaration that Regulation 14 is unlawful, null and void and/or has no force or affect in law.

The application also seeks a declaration from the Court that the order contained in the letter dated 22 May 2000 which prohibits the printing, publishing and distributing of the Petitioner's newspapers and prohibits the Petitioner from using its Printing Press, is null and void and/or bad in law.

Regulation 14 of the Emergency ( Miscellaneous Provisions & Powers ) Regulation was published in Gazette Extraordinary No.1,131/20 and was dated 10th May 2000. This regulation that allows the government to control the media, public gatherings and any information on the basis of national security.