The Court of Appeal on Monday fixed June 22 for further consideration of a petition filed by former State Intelligence Service (SIS) officer Colonel Kelum Maddumage, seeking an order preventing his arrest in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, Ada Derana reported. Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, appearing for the Attorney General, raised preliminary objections, arguing that the petition was not maintainable before the court.
President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, named as a respondent in the petition, also made submissions supporting the Attorney General’s preliminary objections. After hearing the parties, the Court of Appeal directed that the matter be called again on June 22 to allow the petitioner’s counsel to respond.
Colonel Maddumage has sought judicial intervention to prevent his arrest in relation to ongoing investigations linked to the Easter Sunday attacks, in which more than 260 people were killed when suicide bombers struck churches and hotels on April 21, 2019.
The Maddumage petition is the second pre-emptive court challenge from a former SIS officer in the same probe. Former SIS chief Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay’s writ petition challenging his detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act is also pending before the Court of Appeal, and Sallay was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on Sunday from CID custody after his health deteriorated during a hunger strike. The Catholic Church on Monday reiterated its demand that politicians not interfere in the Easter investigations.
