By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): A petition filed by a group of Ruling Party MPs demanding a probe into the unrest occurred throughout the country subsequent to the brutal attack on the ‘Aragalaya’ protest ground in Galleface on May 09, 2022 has been withdrawn upon Public Security Minister Tiran Alles’ assurance that a proper investigation will be carried out in this regard.
The petition was taken down as the matter was taken up before the Court of Appeal today (22) and a Deputy Solicitor appearing for the Public Security Minister revealed Alles’ assurance.
Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC appearing for the petitioners sought the Court’s permission to withdraw the petition as the submissions were sufficient.
Chief of the Defence Staff and former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva was named as a respondent in the petition, and Faiz Musthafa PC appearing for him expressed his opposition to the request.
Despite the opposition, the Appeal Court chaired by Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and comprised of Justice A. Marikkar granted permission to withdraw the petition.
A petition demanding a probe into the May 09 violence was filed by a group of 39 Ruling Party MPs including Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Prasanna Ranatunga, Shehan Semasinghe, and Prasanna Ranaweera. Documented reports stand that the May 09 violence was instigated subsequent to the brutal attack on the peaceful protesters in Galleface Green by devotees of the Rajapaksa family.
