The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the fundamental rights violation application filed by UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera,
The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the fundamental rights violation application filed by UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera, who had complained to the Court of the unreasonable sealing of the website ‘Lanka Mirror’, seizure of equipment in its office and the arrest without a basis of some of the employees. The respondents cited in the petition are some officers of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The website was in the latter quarter of June 2012 according to the petitioner.
The Deputy Solicitor General, Shamindra Fernando, appearing for the respondents said that child pornography films had been retrieved from the computers taken into custody.
Saliya Pieris, Counsel for the petitioner, said that printouts could have been introduced from elsewhere.
He added that the CID had given wrong information to the Magistrate to obtain a search warrant to search the ‘Lanka Mirror’ office in Kotte. The petitioner Samaraweera worked in managerial capacity in that office.
Leave to proceed was granted on the alleged violation of the freedom of expression and the alleged arbitrary treatment complained of by the petitioner.
The petitioner will be heard on February 7, 2013.
The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice N. G. Amaratunga and Justice K. Sripavan.
(Island)