By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Filing a counterclaim before Negombo District Court, former President Maithripala Sirisena has claimed compensation from the plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against him in connection with the suicide bomb blast which took place at St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo.  

In his counterclaim, former President is claiming compensation from the plaintiffs for instituting legal action against him without reasonable cause.  

The victims of those who have died and injured during the suicide bomb blast took place at St Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Katuwapitiya had filed several lawsuits before Negombo District Court claiming compensations from former President Maithripala Sirisena, then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Chief of State Intelligence Service Nilantha Jayawardhane.  
Former President Maithripala Sirisena had raised preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of these lawsuits on several grounds.   

Former President has moved Court to reject these lawsuits on the basis that they do not disclose a cause of action in terms of section 46(2)(d) of the Civil Procedure Code.  

In his preliminary objections, former President has rejected the allegations made by plaintiffs that he acted in an irresponsible manner, neglecting public security.   He further stated that the President was immune to judicial process in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him either in his official or private capacity in terms of Article 35 (1) of the constitution and thereby legal action cannot be proceeded against him.  

Former President Sirisena had filed preliminary objections through Attorney-at-law J.A.K.K. Jayakody. Counsel Varuna Senadhira with Indika Abeykoon, instructed by Dilum Fernando, Kaushalya Fernando, Nadeesha Perera and Ann Seneviratne appeared for the Plaintiffs in all the cases.