AG gives undertaking not to arrest Dappula de Livera

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Attorney General yesterday gave an undertaking before  Court of Appeal that former Attorney General Dappula de Livera will not  be arrested in connection with a statement given to the media in his  official capacity as Attorney General.   

Additional Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe appearing  for the Attorney General gave this assurance when the writ petition  filed by former Attorney General Dappula de Livera challenging the  legality of summoning him to record a statement in connection with the  Easter Sunday attacks was taken up before Court of Appeal. 

 
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal further extended its interim  order preventing police from questioning former Attorney General  Dappula de Livera with regard to anything done by him in the course of  discharging his duties in the capacity of Attorney General, until  September 12. 

In his petition, the former Attorney General stated that he  was informed by the Chief Inspector of the Counter-Terrorism  Investigation Division that they would still require a statement to be  recorded from him with regard to the ‘Grand Conspiracy’ referred to by  him in his interview given to the media in connection with the Easter  Sunday attacks.   
The petitioner is of the view that the Attorney General is  immune and cannot be questioned over an opinion he made in his official  capacity of Attorney General. He further maintained that a statement as  sought to be obtained from him cannot be obtained from him as an  Attorney-at-Law.   

In his petition, the former Attorney General stated that  the said interview was given as a result of information received by him  in his official capacity as Attorney General and this would be reflected  in the documentation or files maintained at the Attorney General’s  Department. He maintained that since he had retired as Attorney General,  he does not possess files in relation to this matter.