Breather For Sri Lankan President In Easter Attacks Cases

A court in Colombo has released Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe from the respondent status in 108 cases filed by the families of victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, who are seeking compensation. But the district court said the prosecution had the right to rename him as a respondent and pursue the cases after the end of his Presidential term. However, the court rejected a request made by former President Maithripala Sirisena to release him from the status of respondent. Sirisena no longer enjoys presidential immunity are there are no provisions in the Civil Procedure Code to release him as a respondent, the court said, reports The Morning. The complainants have stated that Sirisena and the other respondents did not take due steps to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence. Over 250 people were killed in a series of blasts in churches and luxury hotels on April 21, 2019.