The interim order preventing the arrest and recording of a statement from former Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera over a comment related to the 2019 Easter attacks has been further extended until June 22, 2023.
The interim order was extended today after the petition filed by the former Attorney General was taken up for consideration at the Court of Appeal.
In his petition, the former AG claims that the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) had issued a summons to record a statement with regard to a comment made related to the Easter Sunday attacks.
Stating that the Police are not vested with powers to question his activities during his tenure as the Attorney General, Dappula de Livera said that it is a violation of the privileges given to an AG.
The former AG had, therefore, requested the court to issue an interim order preventing the summoning and his arrest over the matter.
Meanwhile, the Additional Solicitor General informed the court that a period of one month is required to obtain statements from the respondents of the case.
As the petitioner had not objected to the request, the Court fixed the case for hearing on June 22, 2023.
The TID issued summons to the former Attorney General on 19th and 21st April 2023 to record a statement he had made with regard to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, days before his retirement.
On the directives of Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, the TID issued the summons to Dappula de Livera to record a statement over his earlier claims that “There was a Grand Conspiracy with regard to the 2019 April Attacks.”
However, the former Attorney General did not report to the TID as summoned, while his lawyer submitted a seven-page objection letter on his behalf. (NewsWire)