Pastor Jerome Fernando goes before SC to prevent his arrest

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Pastor Jerome Fernando yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing police from arresting him in connection with the controversial Sunday sermon.  

In his petition, Pastor Jerome Fernando stated that he was advised that the sermon he delivered on April 30, 2023 does not constitute any offence as alleged by police in their B report filed in the Magistrate’s Court.  

He said that Article 10 of the Constitution guarantees to him as a person the “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”   

Pastor Jerome states that he has not committed an offence under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No 56 of 2007 or under Section 291A of the Penal Code.   
However, he unconditionally expressed his utmost remorse to the Buddhist, Hindu and Islam clergy and the followers of the religions and to anybody else who is hurt or whose religious feelings are wounded by the words contained in his said sermon.  

The petitioner further maintained that it is extremely likely that he will be arrested at the Katunayake Airport itself when he returns to Sri Lanka.  

This petition was filed through Attorneys-At-Law, Namal Karunaratne and Udara Muhandiramge of Premier Legal Consultants.  

The Pastor said that it is extremely likely that he will be arrested at the Katunayake Airport itself when he returns to Sri Lanka.

• Pastor Jerome Fernando stated that he was advised that the sermon he delivered on April 30, 2023 does not constitute any offence
• He said that Article 10 of the Constitution guarantees to him as a person the “freedom of thought, conscience and religion”