The Supreme Court has decided not to proceed with the fundamental rights petitions filed against Ranil Wickremesinghe over the Easter Sunday bomb attacks as he is the incumbent President.

The order was issued by a seven-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, L.T.B. Dehideniya, Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Shiran Gunaratne.

The Supreme Court decided that the proceedings against President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is named as a respondent in connection with the said petitions, cannot be continued.

Announcing the verdict, Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya stated that under Article 35(1) of the Constitution, the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe is entitled to immunity.

The Chief Justice also pointed out that according to that section, it is stated that proceedings cannot be conducted against a person who currently holds the office of President.

Accordingly, according to Article 35 (1) of the Constitution, the Chief Justice stated in his decision that the relevant petitions against the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot be maintained at this time.