The Supreme Court has set a hearing for September 3 to review a special appeal filed by the Attorney General, challenging a 2020 Court of Appeal decision that dismissed the indictment against former Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.
According to Divaina newspaper, the original indictment, filed in the Kandy High Court, charged Tennakoon with the murder of an 18-year-old youth and attempted murder in connection with an incident in Matale, in 1999.
In 2020, the Court of Appeal quashed the indictment ruling that the charges were legally flawed.
The Attorney General has subsequently filed a special appeal, arguing that the Court of Appeal’s decision was unlawful and should be overturned.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Jagath De Silva, Mahinda Samayawardhena, and Sobitha Rajakaruna will preside over the Supreme Court hearing.
During a recent court appearance, President’s Counsel Navin Marapana, representing Tennakoon, informed the court that the former minister was in poor health and unable to walk.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Attorney General, requested a new date to present facts on the case.
The appeal centers on whether the 2020 Court of Appeal decision improperly dismissed the indictment filed by the Attorney General in relation to the 1999 incident. (Newswire)