(UTV | COLOMBO) – The Court of Appeal today issued an interim injunction order preventing the Colombo High Court from hearing the case over the disappearance of 11 youth in 2008-2009.
The order was issued when the case filed against a defendant in the case Former Navy Commander and current Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and 13 others was taken up for hearing today.
The Attorney General filed indictments against the 14 defendants at the Colombo High Court over 667 charges pertaining to the abduction and disappearance of the 11 youth.
Admiral Karannagoda filed an appeal against the case before the Appeals Court citing that the case filed by the Attorney General was unjustifiable.
He called for an interim injunction to be issued until the petition he filed is heard and a verdict is issued and to acquit him of all charges.
Admiral Karannagoda’s petition was heard before Appeals Court Chairman HMD Nawaz and judge Sobitha Rajakaruna.
Senior Additional Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne, representing the Attorney General filed objections and said the Appeals Court cannot intervene in a case being heard before a three-member bench appointed by the Chief Justice to hear the case at the Colombo High Court.
Jayamanne said charges were filed based on circumstantial evidence uncovered through investigations.
However, the Appeals Court bench rejected the objections and issued an interim injunction from the case being heard.
The bench ordered objections to be filed on the 22nd of June while the petition will be reconsidered on the same day.