Easter attack: The former President said he was not responsible

Former President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, 30th September filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the summons issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

On the basis that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the current President, the  Supreme Court had recently ordered not to proceed with the case against President Ranil Wickremesinghe over the Easter Sunday attacks.

Colombo Fort Magistrate, Thilina Gamage, on September 16, issued notice on former President Sirisena after naming him a suspect in the Easter Sunday attacks. And Sirisena was asked to appear before the Court on 14 October.

But, former President Sirisena yesterday said that he was not responsible for the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Sirisena’s lawyers have named the Registrar of the Colombo Fort Magistrate as a respondent.

The Court decision emanates from a petition filed by a victim Jesuraj Ganesan and Fr. Cyril Gamini who represent the Catholic Church.

Jesuraj Ganesan lost his leg in the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 carried out by Islamic extremists at the St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade in Colombo.

The two petitioners have alleged that the negligence of Sirisena, as the executive President and the Minister of Defence, led to the attacks.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne with counsel Thejitha Koralage, Udara Muhandiramge and Thilina Punchihewa, appearing for the petitioners, asked Magistrate Gamage to name Sirisena as a suspect and issue notice under section 298 of the Penal Code.