Supreme Court Grants Leave to Proceed in Fundamental Rights Case Filed Against 8 News 1st Journalists in 2022

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed in the Fundamental Rights application filed on behalf of eight journalists of MTV Channel (Private) Limited over the assault carried out against them on 9th July 2022.

Journalists Sarasi Peiris, Waruna Sampath, Janitha Mendis, T. Sinthujan, Imesh Sutherland, W. Weerakoon, V. Chandran and Lahiru Madhusanka Arachchi have been named as petitioners.

The matter was taken up before a bench comprising Supreme Court Justices A.L. Shiran Gooneratne, Janak de Silva and Sampath B. Abayakoon.

The Petitioners had named 8 Respondents – comprising the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Senior Deputy General of Police, SSP Romesh Liyanage, SSP Nizam Jamaldeen, the Attorney General and 2 other police officers.

Leave to proceed was granted against all named 8 respondents.

The three-judge bench gave the order under the principles guaranted in the constitution of Freedom from Torture pursuant to Article 11, Right to equality and freedom from non-discrimination pursuant to Articles 12(1) and 12(2), Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression including Publication pursuant to Article 14(1)(a), Freedom to engage in any lawful occupation, profession, trade, business or enterprise, pursuant to Article 14(1)(g).

The matter was fixed for argument on the 29th of October.

President's Counsel Uditha Egalahewa appeared on behalf of the petitioners, with N.K.Ashokbharan, Damitha Karunarathna and Miyuru Egalahewa, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Charika Wanigabaduge.