- CA refuses interim order in writ filed against any arrest of Gunaratne Wanninayake
Attorney-at-law Gunaratne Wanninayake, who has allegedly obstructed the duties of a police officer, has been granted bail by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court (MC). He has been released on two surety bails amounting to Rs. 500,000 each.
Wanninayake had appeared before the Mt. Lavinia MC. He was accompanied by the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, attorney Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Earlier yesterday (15), the legal counsel for Wanninayake had informed the Court of Appeal (CA) that his client is prepared to appear before the Mt. Lavinia MC in connection with the recent incident that occurred at the Mt. Lavinia MC premises. This was informed by President’s Counsel (PC) Faisz Musthapha, who appeared on behalf of Wanninayake, when a writ petition filed by Wanninayake seeking to prevent his arrest was taken up for consideration yesterday.
Accordingly, the President of the CA, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya PC stated that the Court is unable to entertain the interim request made by the petitioner’s legal counsel to issue an order preventing his client’s arrest. Justice Abeysuriya PC further observed that it would be appropriate for the petitioner to surrender to the MC and resolve the matter. The CA bench then ordered that the petition be recalled today (16) at 1.30 p.m. to review the progress of the proceedings.
Wanninayake has filed a writ petition with the CA through his lawyers, seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with an alleged incident at the Mt. Lavinia MC premises. The Inspector General of Police, the Mt. Lavinia Headquarters Inspector and several others have been named as respondents in the petition.
In his petition, Wanninayake has indicated that the Police have taken steps to arrest him for allegedly verbally abusing and obstructing the duties of a Police officer, who was involved in the incident at the Mt. Lavinia Court premises on 10 October. Accordingly, he has requested the Court to issue an order preventing his arrest.