Don't arrest me - A petition from Osman's son

The Court of Appeal has decided to hear the petition filed by businessman Shehan Gunasekara, requesting the issuance of a writ order preventing his arrest by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in connection with the murder of an organized criminal named Ganemulla Sanjeewa. Accordingly, the panel of judges also ordered the issuance of notices instructing the Director of the Colombo Crimes Division, Senior Superintendent of Police Indika Lokuhetti, and others named as respondents in this petition, to appear before the court and present facts on the upcoming September 03rd.

This order was pronounced by a Court of Appeal judge panel comprising Mr. Shashi Mahendran and Mr. Aditya Balapatabendi.

Mr. Shehan Gunasekara, who filed this writ petition, is the son of the well-known businessman Osman Gunasekara, also known by the alias 'Gampaha Osman', and he is a resident of Imbulgoda, Gampaha. Through this petition, filed via lawyer Amila Kumara, the petitioner, who states he is a businessman by profession, has stated that his father has already been arrested and is being detained under detention orders and interrogated for investigations related to the Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder incident.

The petitioner points out that on May 13th last year, the police searched his father's house and found two firearms, and despite these firearms having legal licenses, the media disseminated false propaganda claiming that illegal weapons were being possessed. He also states that he went to the Colombo Crimes Division on several occasions to give statements as per their notification.

The petitioner alleges that during those instances when he went to give statements, he was questioned about his alleged connections with a person named 'Kehelbadde Padme', who is said to be residing in Thailand, and that these interrogations were conducted in a very threatening manner. Given the current situation, there is a high risk of him being arrested at any moment, therefore, he has further requested the court to issue a relief order preventing such an arrest.

In court, President's Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, along with lawyer Rukshan Senadhira, appeared on behalf of the petitioner, instructed by lawyer Amila Kumara, while State Counsel Akila Dalpadadu presented facts on behalf of the Attorney General.