Jaffna High Court to hear HC applications

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 December 2004, 16:31 GMT]
Jaffna High Court Judge Mr.K.P.S.Varatharajah Tuesday gave a final date to Lance Corporal Somaretna Rajapakse to file his objections in the six Habeas Corpus applications in which he and two other army officers were cited as respondents by six petitioners that their sons disappeared after the arrest by the Sri Lanka Army in Ariyalai-Chemmani areas in the Jaffna town during 1997-1997 period, legal sources said.

The first respondent Lance Corporal Somaretna Rajapakse is one of the four accused found guilty and sentenced to death by the High Court Trial-at-Bar in the Krishanthy Cumaraswamy rape and murder case.

The second and third respondents are Captain Lalithkumara who was in charge of the Ariyalai army camp and General Lionel Balagalle who was the Jaffna area commander during the period in question, legal sources said.

When the six HC applications were taken up for inquiry in the Jaffna High Court Tuesday, State Counsel Ms Suganthi Kandasamy submitted objections on behalf of the second and third respondents. However the first respondent Lance Corporal Somaretna Rajapakse wanted time for submitting his objection, legal sources said.

High Court Judge said several dates have already been granted to him for submitting objection. However he would give a final date to submit his objections on January 5 next year, legal sources said.

Meanwhile, when eight other HC applications were taken up for inquiry Tuesday, respondents-army officers filed their objections through State Counsel Ms Suganthi Kandasamy. Respondents in their affidavits furnished in the court said they were not involved in the reported disappearance of Tamil youths after the arrest by army soldiers in Gurunagar and other surrounding areas during 1996-1997 period, legal sources said.

The High Court Judge directed that the inquiry into these HC applications would commence Wednesday (December 8th), legal sources said.