Supreme Court issues notice on Lankaenews editor

The Supreme Court today issued notice on Lankaenews editor Sandaruwan Senadheera to appear before the court in March 03, on charges of contempt of court. 

On November 25, the Gamapaha Chief Magistrate issued an international arrest warrant on Senadheera for alleged contempt of court, to be executed through Interpol. 

However, on December 09 the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informed court that Interpol has refused to issue the Red notice as charges have not been filed in court. 

Senadheera has been accused of contempt for publishing on his website a photograph of the suspect accused over the assault on former editor of Rivira newspaper, Upali Tennakoon, before the suspect was even produced for an identification parade.  

Senadheera is currently believed to be in the UK in exile, having left the country during the regime of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

Gamapaha Chief Magistrate Kavindya Nanayakkara had also instructed the Department of Immigration and Emigration to arrest the Lankaenews editor if he arrives in Sri Lanka.  

Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakse had recently informed the Parliament that legal action will be pursued against Sandaruwan Senadheera for insulting the country’s judges using the Lankaenews website.  

Attorney-at-law Madura Vithanage has submitted 14 complaints to court claiming that the website in question has published reports insulting several judges and courts in Sri Lanka.  

The complaints filed stated that such articles were published on 14 separate occasions and that legal action should be instigated against this.