Attorney General withdraws from the Aragalaya case filed by Rasika Jayakody against Gota.

The Attorney General officially informed the Supreme Court yesterday (24) that he would not appear on behalf of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has been named as a respondent in the fundamental rights petitions filed against the emergency law, curfew, and ban on social media use imposed during the Aragalaya period.

These fundamental rights petitions have been filed in court by journalist Rasika Jayakody and others. In addition to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and others have also been named as respondents in the relevant petitions. The case was called before a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando.

When the petitions were considered, Senior State Counsel Savith Bandara, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, stated before the court that the position of the current President and the Secretary of Defence regarding these restrictions implemented during the Aragalaya period is expected to be presented to the court through affidavits. He also requested the court to grant permission for this.

At that time, the lawyers appearing for the petitioners pointed out that a court that had previously considered a similar petition had ruled that the fundamental rights of the people were violated through the imposition of emergency law during the Aragalaya period. Therefore, they requested the bench to issue a similar order regarding these petitions, based on the relevant facts.

The Supreme Court, having considered the submissions made, accepted the request made by the Senior State Counsel and granted permission, and ordered the relevant petitions to be called again on May 21st. In this hearing, Attorney Pulasti Hewamanna, as well as President's Counsels M.A. Sumanthiran and Suren Fernando, appeared for the petitioners, while Senior State Counsel Savith Bandara appeared for the respondents.