AG informs court that he will not defend Nilantha Jayawardena

By T.Farook Thajudeen

The Attorney General yesterday informed Colombo Additional District Judge Mahesha de Silva that he will not defend Ex Director of SIS,  Nilantha Jayawardena. In 108 cases filed by the victims and the next   kith and kin of the deceased and permanently disabled, due to Easter  Sunday terror attacks on April 21, 2019 The State Counsel appearing on behalf of the Attorney General made this assertion before the Colombo District Court during the inquiry  into 108 petitions filed in the District Court Claiming damages for  the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb blast from Ex-President   Maithripala Sirisena, former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, Ex-IGP Pujith Jayasundera, Ex-Director of  the SIS Nilantha Jayewardene, Ex-head of the SIS Sisira Mendis and former AG Dappula de Livera, as respondents for the petitions.   The Counsel appearing for the second respondent,

incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe submitted to court that the second respondent currently functions as the Executive President and as per Article 35/1 of the Constitution that he has been guaranteed immunity from prosecution.   Hence the Counsel requested the Court to exonerate Ranil Wickremesinghe from the case.  However Counsel for Maithripala Sirisena objected, requesting the court that if Ranil Wickremesinghe is exonerated from the case that his client Maithripala Sirisena too should be exonerated from prosecution.   The Counsel also said that he will not object if the case against Ranil Wickremesinghe is laid until Ranil’s term of Presidency is laid off.