Court wants ex-President to have facilities of a Cabinet Minister

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Court of Appeal yesterday directed the Secretary to the President to ensure that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga receive all the entitlements that is provided to a Cabinet Minister and directed the former President’s Counsel to support the case with notice to the Attorney General. The Bench comprised Justice K. Sripavan and Justice Rohini Perera.

Romesh de Silva PC for Chandrika Kumaratunga contended that the former President is a target of the LTTE. He submitted that her security, vehicles and other facilities that are entitled to her under the President’s Entitlement Act was withdrawn sequel to instructions given by the first respondent, Secretary to the President.

The Counsel contended that respondents in violation of Natural Justice has not consulted the former President when her security was withdrawn despite her being a prime target of the LTTE.

Former President Kumaratunga on Tuesday filed the Writ of Certiorari in the Court of Appeal seeking to quash the decision to trim her entitlements granted under the former President’s Entitlement Act.

Petitioner Chandrika Kumaratunga cited Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Finance Ministry P.B. Jayasundara Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry Secretary D. Dissanayake, petitioner’s Secretary Piyadasa Dissanayake and the Attorney General as respondents.

The Former President stated that the first respondent Secretary to the President had given her written instructions to hand over the vehicles in excess of the Act. She stated that the decision was unjust and was in violation of the Natural Justice. The Notice will be returnable on October 15.