Fundamental Rights application by Ven Thiniyawala Palitha Thera:

SC wants further information from police

Hiran H. Senewiratne

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Attorney General to obtain further information from the police on the Fundamental Rights application filed by Ven Thiniyawala Palitha Thera on the basis of illegal and unlawful search of the Nalandaramaya Temple premises.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Asoka de Silva and Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga directed State Counsel Viveka Siriwardena de Silva appearing for the Attorney General to obtain further information from the police on the matter and put off the case to May 10. The petitioner Ven Thiniyawala Palitha Thera in his application stated that search warrant was issued by the Magistrate to police.

Police had provided false facts and misled Court to get the search warrant, the petitioner stated.

The petitioner stated that on February 25 at 2.15 pm a team of police officers from the Mirihana police station had come to his temple and informed the petitioner that they had received an anonymous telephone call informing them about explosives being hidden in the temple premises. Acting on the telephone call police had obtained a search warrant from the Nugegoda Magistrate and searched the entire temple.

Attorney-at-Law Dilshan Jayasooriya instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for the petitioner.