Gota contests Permanent HC order: CA directs to re-issue notices

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday directed Petitioner Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-issue notices pertaining to his Writ Petition contesting the Order of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, which is hearing the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum Case, on the Respondents. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

The Bench comprising Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeysekere fixed the matter for 26 March.

The Petitioner cited sitting judges of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar Sampath Abhayakoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne as well as the Attorney General as Respondents.

Romesh de Silva PC with Ali Sabry PC, Sugath Caldera, Ruwantha Cooray, and Harith de Mel, instructed by Sanath Wijayawardene, appeared for the Petitioner.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Milinda Gunatilleke and Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera, and State Counsel Uthara Karunatilake appeared for the Attorney General.

The Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, in its Order, overruled the Preliminary Objection raised by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya and six accused in the said case.

Petitioner Gotabaya in his Writ Petition seeks the Court to quash the order made by the High Court on 20 February, rejecting his plea under and in terms of Judicature (amendment) Act No. 9 of 2018.

He laments that the sitting judges did not give him an opportunity to be heard prior to said Order, dated 20 February 2019.