Sri Lanka: FR petition against eviction of Tamil lodgers amicably resolved

Thursday, 29 November 2007

The counsel for the petitioners who filed FR petitions against the eviction of Tamil lodgers on Wednesday agreed to consider an amicable resolution of the petitions when the matter was taken up before the Supreme Court. Sources said referring to the issue of tendering apology by the Prime Minister in the matter of eviction, the counsel for petitioners told the court that they are ready to consider the court’s suggestion in this regard when the fundamental rights violation petitions filed against the eviction of Tamil lodgers from Colombo came up in Court.

It was also said that there is an interim order preventing the removal of persons without reasonable suspicion and a valid reason.

The three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Ms Shiranee Tilakawardane and Jagath Balapatabendi listed the case to be mentioned on March 10 next year.

The Supreme Court had already issued an Interim Order directing the IGP to refrain from taking further steps to evacuate Tamil persons from Colombo or to prevent them from entering and staying in any part of Colombo.

The petitioners sought relief and effective redress with regard to infringement of their (Tamils) fundamental rights, who have been victims of discrimination.

They cited IGP, OICs of Wellawatte, Pettah, Kotahena and Wattala police stations, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karanagoda, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Attorney General as respondents.

M.A.Sumanthiran with Viran Corea, Ms Sharmaine Gunaratne, Ms Bavani Fonseka, Ms Ermiya Tegal appeared for Centre for Policy Alternatives and its Executive Director.

President’s Counsel K.Kanag Iswaran with M.A.Sumanthiran appeared for seven other petitioners. J.C.Weliamuna appeared for the Tamil Businessman Thambirajah Kandasamy while Additional Solicitor General, Palitha Fernando, appeared for Attorney General.

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