Petitioners' counsel apologises for naming fmr president as mister

At the onset of the today's argument, Counsel Suren Fernando appearing for the petitioners addressed the court on the fact of citing former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in the petition as mister while in the same petition Minister Vajira Abeywardena is addressed as honourable.

He said it was an oversight and he takes the responsibility as the counsel and not a fault of the petitioners. He said that he had already apologised to the respondent's counsel about the oversight which happened due to quick drafting of the petition.

However, Romesh de Silva PC and Gamini Marapana PC stressed that even though the apology could be accepted, the defect of the petition for citing then president in person could not be avoided. And they said that the assumption of mala fide intention of the petitioners also should not be set aside. (Shehan Chamika Silva)