7 December 2023 09:22 pm Views - 1073
This information came to light when a motion filed by former Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa was taken up today before the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Goonaratne and Achala Wengappuli.
President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapa appearing for the former Kurunegala Mayor informed that the Attorney General has already filed indictments before the High Court against the five accused.
On a previous occasion, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order suspending the operation of an Interim Order issued by Court of Appeal which stayed the arrest warrants issued against former Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa and four others in connection with the demolition of the Rajya Sabha Mandapaya. The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Justice Shiran Goonaratne had made this order pursuant to an appeal applications filed by the Attorney General challenging the legality of the Court of Appeal order dated August 25, 2020.
Musthapa informed the Supreme Court that his clients are expecting to withdraw the writ applications filed before the Court of Appeal since the indictments have been filed against them before the High Court. This motion is to be supported before the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Shiran Goonaratne.
On August 7, 2020, warrants had been issued by the Kurunegala Magistrate on Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharana, Kurunegala Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Nishantha Thilakaratne, Municipal Engineer Chaminda Bandara Adikari, Superintendent of Works Ilaludeen Sulfiya, and backhoe machine operator Lakshman Priyantha regarding the demolition of a building with archaeological value in Kurunegala.
President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapa with Counsel Udara Muhandiramge appeared for the respondents while Deputy Solicitor General Madawa Tennakoon appeared for the Attorney General.