FR case filed against amnesty to Mirusuvil multi-murder convict Sergeant Ratnayake
A Fundamental Rights violation case has been filed against granting general amnesty to Army Sgt. Ratnayake, condemned in the Mirusuvil murder case, where 8 innocent Tamils including a 5 year old child were murdered by an Army team.
A former member of Northern Provincial Council and an Attorney at Law, Kesavan Sayanthan has filed a Fundamental Rights Violation case in the Colombo High Court, yesterday.
He has filed this case on behalf of the relatives of the murdered persons. Although, the legal system has been closed down due to Corona threat, this case has been filed through e-filing method.
This case has been filed on the basis that by the President granting a General Amnesty to Army Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, Section 12 of the Constitution assuring Equal Security Before Law had been violated.
A former MP of TNA and President’s Counsel, M.A.Sumanthiran will appear for the petitioners when the case will be called for inquiries.
Back ground of the case
On 19.12.2000, 8 innocent Tamil people including a 5 year old child, who went to inspect their houses were arrested by the Army and were shot dead , it was accused. On evidence provided by one Ponnuthurai Maheswaran, who had escaped injured in the incident, the bodies of the dead were recovered by the Police.
14 Army men were arrested relevant to the murders and inquiries were undertaken by Police and Military Police. After initial hearing at the Chavakachcheri courts, the suspects were released on bail and the case was conducted there. Later the case was transferred to Anuradhapura High Court and the Attorney General filed charges against 5 accused.
While a 3-judge special court was constituted in Colombo by the Attorney General and Army Sgt. Sunil Ratnayake was condemned to death by the inquiring Judges on 24th June 2015. Other 04 accused were released for lack of evidence.
In this context, Army Sergeant R.M.Sunil Ratnayake , who was condemned to death in the Jaffna/Mirusuvil Multiple Murder case was released under General Amnesty by President Gotabhaya Rajapakse on 26th March 2020.
