INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Attorney General has raised preliminary objections before the Court of Appeal requesting to dismiss the petition filed by Pastor Jerome
Fernando, seeking a ruling to invalidate the order issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate to remand him in custody.Accordingly, the Court of
Appeal announced that the decision pertaining to the relevant preliminary objections will be delivered on Wednesday (Dec
20).The objections were raised by Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, when the petition
was taken up before the court today (18).On December 01, the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court ordered that the accused who had stirred
controversy over his controversial remarks on several religions to be remanded in custody, after he was produced before the court following
his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a few hours after he arrived at the CID premises to record a statement for the
second consecutive day.He found himself in hot water after a video of one of his sermons went viral on social media, due to allegations that
it included derogatory statements related to Lord Buddha and other religious figures.Fernando then flew out to Singapore on 14 May, two days
He had arrived from Singapore on board a Qatar Airlines flight and left the airport through the Gold Route at the Bandaranaike International
within 48 hours of his arrival on the island.On November 17, the Court of Appeal ordered the CID not to arrest Pastor Fernando upon his
This interim order was issued in respect of the petition filed by Pastor Fernando, seeking to prevent the CID from arresting him.
