Easter Sunday petitions to be heard before a full bench

The Supreme Court today determined that all petitions put forth pertaining to the Easter Sunday attacks will be taken up before a seven member bench on the 12th of July.

The order was issued by Supreme Court judges Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira de Abrew and LTB Dehideniya.The seven member bench will be appointed by the Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.

In late May the Attorney General requested the Chief Justice to hear the Fundamental Rights petitions filed against Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and Former Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando before a full bench.

The request was made when a Fundamental Rights petition filed by a father who lost two children in the Easter Sunday bombings and a petition filed by a businessman was taken up for hearing.

The Attorney General had called for the matter to be considered as a matter of national importance and to appoint a five member bench or a bench comprising more than five judges to hear the case.