Order in Pastor Jerome’s writ petition fixed for December 22

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The order regarding the preliminary objections raised against the writ petition filed by  Jerome Fernando was yesterday fixed for Friday (22) by the Court of Appeal.  

Jerome Fernando is seeking an order directing the Magistrate to dismiss the case filed before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. He is also challenging the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Order for his remand pending investigations into charges of violating conditions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.  

When the matter came up before the Court of Appeal, Justice D. N. Samarakoon announced that the order regarding the preliminary objections will be delivered on December 22 since he received synopsis of the petitioner and respondent parties on Tuesday (19) evening.  

The CID has already commenced investigations against Pastor Jerome for insulting other religions and for the alleged commission of offences under section 291B of the Penal Code and section 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act of 56 of 2007.  

It is alleged that, on or about May 18, 2023, Jerome Fernando had addressed a large gathering of people and made numerous statements that are derogatory of other religions, specifically of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.