CA issues notices on Respondents for Feb 15

The Court of Appeal yesterday (3) issued notices returnable on February 15 against Jaffna Army Commander Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, OIC of the Atchchuveli Police Station and the IGP as well as the Attorney General.

The Bench comprising Justices Ranjith Silva and Nalin Perera issued the notices sequent to Habeas Corpus applications filed in respect of the alleged involuntary disappearances of two human rights activists in Jaffna, believed to be abducted and detained by the Army. The applications were filed on behalf of the disappeared persons Weerarajah Lalith Kumar (30) and Kitnam Muruganandan.

Petitioners are Lalith Kumar’s mother Arumugam Weerarajah, who is a plantation worker in Welipanna, Waga and Muruganandam Janatha who is wife of Muruganandan of Atchchuveli, Jaffna.

Both human rights activists are members of the “We are Sri Lankans” organization which is an organization working towards bridging the gap between the Sinhala and Tamil people of Sri Lanka.

They are also members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

Applications have been filed seeking mandate from the Court in the nature of Writ of Habeas Corpus discharging / releasing them forthwith from detention / custody.