Gnanakone to sue Sri Lanka’s Defense Ministry, IGP

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 20:54 GMT]
Mr. Charles Gnanakone, an Australian citizen who was arrested while in Colombo and detained by the Colombo Crimes Division of the Sri Lanka Police in connection with the murder of Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, before being released by an order of the Court of Appeal, has given notice through his lawyer to the Defense Secretary and the Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka, that he intends to sue them for millions of rupees in damages for unlawful arrest and detention, legal sources said.

Mr. Gnanakone is seeking rupees one hundred million as damages from the State.

Ms. T.Gowry Shangary, Attorney-at-Law, has sent notice to the Defense Secretary and the Inspector General of Police Monday in regard to this.

The Defense Ministry arrested Mr. Gnanakone. Later the IGP ordered his detention.

In the notice sent to the Defense Secretary and IGP Monday, the lawyer states:

”I am instructed by my client that you with other officers of the Colombo Crimes Division detained my client on 10th October 2005 illegally, unlawfully and without any cause whatsoever, until he was released consequent to an order of the Court of Appeal on 30th November 2005. The detention is not only unlawful and unjustified, but also malicious and without any reasonable or probable cause. I am further instructed to state by reason of the aforesaid acts my client sustained damages, which he reasonably estimates at Rupees one hundred million.

”I am instructed to give you notice and I do hereby give you notice that my client will be instituting action in the District Court of Colombo after the expiry of the period of one month from the receipt hereof against you and the Attorney General as representative of the State, for the recovery of the said sum of Rupees one hundred million as damages, interest thereon and cost of the lawsuit.”