Court re-issues warrant on Secretary of Commission probing political victimisation
The Colombo HC special Trial-at-Bar has re-issued an arrest warrant on Pearl K. Weerasinghe, the Secretary of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing incidents of political persecution.
The court has also ordered the Acting IGP to enact the warrant on or before the 12th of March and to submit reasons if the order cannot be carried out.
Last Friday (6), the Court issued an arrest warrant on Weerasinghe for failing to attend court proceedings despite being issued notices.
The PCoI was summoned to appear before the court to submit investigation files with regard to the elephant racketeering case against “Ali Roshan” and seven others.
The bench also ordered the Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration to impound her passport.
However, following the court order, the Commission, in a press statement said, it cannot be held accountable to any court of law, and that files in its possession can only be requested by the President, and must be treated as confidential documents until the President produces them before Parliament.
“No individual or institution has the legal power to seek such materials,” the release stated.
“The CoI has determined that naming the CoI Secretary as a witness before court and issuing a summons on her is an ultra vires act that flouts the powers of the commission.”
The Commission reiterated its order to the AG that he should immediately “stop proceedings” connected to cases under investigation by the CoI. “That order still stands.”
