Date fixed for verdict on revision application against Pujith-Hemasiri bail order

The Colombo High Court will be delivering its decision of the revision application filed by the Attorney General, against the granting of bail to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, on the 9th of October.

The former Defence Secretary and the IGP were arrested and remanded for allegedly failing to prevent the terror attacks on Easter Sunday even after adequate forewarnings were received on the blasts. 

However, the duo was later granted bail under the orders of Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

The Attorney General then filed a revision application against the granting of bail to the accused.

When the application was taken up yesterday, the attorneys representing the respondents concluded their presenting of facts to the court.

Accordingly the Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris had appeared on behalf of the Attorney General and presented facts today.

The Deputy Solicitor General declared that the order issued by the Magistrate to grant bail to the two suspects was completely erroneous. 

He claimed that from the start of the case the magistrate had stood by the preconceived notion that there was insufficient reason to accuse the two suspects of murder charges.

He also alleged that the whole process of granting bail to the defendants was biased. 

The Deputy Solicitor General further stated that the Magistrate’s Court has no authority to issue a bail order in this manner and therefore requested the High Court to revise the said bail order and issue an order to immediately place them back in remand custody.

After considering the facts presented, Colombo High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi fixed October 09 to deliver the verdict on the revision application.