The lawyers of the National People’s Power (NPP) are preparing documents to file a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court (SC) this month challenging the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) decision to blacklist retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sampath Thuyacontha from entering any SLAF establishment.

The move by the SLAF came following Thuyacontha’s appearances on the stages of the NPP and a speech he made at the Gampaha District meeting of the NPP’s Collective of Retired Veterans. 

AVM (Retd) Thuyacontha is a decorated pilot of the No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron and a former Commanding Officer of the Katunayake Air Force Base Camp.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara said yesterday (1) that the lawyers of the NPP collective were finalising the relevant documentation to file the FR petition this month. 

“We are preparing the necessary documentation to file the FR. Any member of the armed forces is free to pursue his or her political views after they retire from the service. This action sets a bad precedent,” Nanaykkara said. 

He also pointed out that Thuyacontha was not alone in addressing the NPP meeting and was with a number of retired military personnel, including former members of the Sri Lanka Army and Navy.

According to the SLAF, the decision to blacklist Thuyacontha was “with the aim of maintaining the internal administrative affairs without any political interruption”.

Attempts to contact the Secretary of Defence and the Ministry of Defence over the blacklisting failed.