By: Isuru Parakrama
October 22, Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal has dismissed applications filed by several Buddhist monks seeking permission to intervene in a writ petition brought by retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The applications were dismissed by the court today (22), preventing the monks from joining the proceedings as intervening parties through the applications concerned.
Among those who sought permission to make submissions in the case was Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, along with several other Buddhist monks who wished to present their position in relation to the legal challenge.
Sallay’s writ petition contests the legality of his arrest and continued detention under the PTA, seeking judicial intervention over the action taken against him.
The intervention applications were intended to allow the monks to participate in the proceedings and place their submissions before the court in connection with Sallay’s challenge.
However, the Court of Appeal declined their requests and ordered the applications to be dismissed at today’s hearing.
The decision concerns the monks’ applications to intervene in the existing proceedings, while Sallay’s underlying legal challenge relates to the lawfulness of his arrest and detention under anti-terrorism legislation.
