SC reserves its order on UNP's petition

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 November 2001, 22:27 GMT]
The Supreme Court Monday reserved its order on the Fundamental Rights application filed against the State owned Lake House by the main opposition United national Party. The Deputy Leader of the main opposition United National Party Mr.Karu Jayasuriya has stated that the respondent institution has violated his fundamental rights by publishing distorted news and articles in its publications in favour of the ruling People's Alliance contravening the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

When this application was taken up for inquiry Monday, President's Counsel Mr.Nihal Jayamanne who appeared for the Lake House submitted in his preliminary objection that the respondent institution was not a government body. As such there was no provision in the constitution to hear a fundamental rights application against it.

The three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprised Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva and Justices Ms Shiranee Bandaranaike and Hector H.Yapa put off its order for a later date.

The Lake House publishes English, Sinhala and Tamil dailies (Daily News, Dinamina and Thinakaran) and several other magazines.

Meanwhile the Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando Monday informed the Supreme Court that the investigation into the allegations of bribery against the former minister Mr.S.B.Dissanayake who defected to main opposition UNP from the ruling PA is still continuing. Mr.Fernando made this submission when the Supreme Court Monday considered the fundamental rights application filed by Mr.Dissanayake against the Bribery Commission.

The Deputy Solicitor General further informed court that no necessity was arisen to arrest the petitioner Mr.Dissanayake at this point as the investigation in to the allegation was not concluded.

The Supreme Court comprised Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva, Justices Ms Shiranee Bandaranaike and Hector H.Yapa put off the further inquiry on December 14.