Case against Tissa referred to AG

The case filed against former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake for allegedly displaying a fraudulent document (an agreement) to the media during the presidential election has been referred to the Attorney General for his advice, the CID informed Court yesterday.

When the case came before Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage, the CID informed that the prosecution has sought the AG’s advice regarding the matter and they were yet to receive his advice. Accordingly, further magisterial inquiry into the matter fixed for January 13 next year.

On December 22, 2014, Mr. Attanayake publicly announced that there was a secret agreement between the then Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The CID had informed Court that legal action against Mr. Attanayake could be most probably taken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007.

The section 3(1) of the ICCPR cites that no person shall propagate war or advocate national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to cause discrimination, hostility or violence.

Mr. Attanayake was arrested and currently out on bail on charges of displaying fraudulent documents during the presidential election.

He claimed that he found the secret document in which Mr. Sirisena and Mr. Wickremesinghe had agreed on 15 points related to a proposed coalition with their signatures and that this could have an adverse effect on the country.

Mr. Attanayake had stated that the agreement contained a number of proposals pertaining to the North and East issues in the country including the major demands of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).