The Fundamental Rights petition filed in 2021 by Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was taken up before Chief Justice Padman Surasena. The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition, ruling that it could not proceed. Sri Lanka Latest News
Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero filed the petition alleging that, in 2014, the Central Bank—acting on government instructions—made an illegal payment of US$ 6.5 million to an American advertising company owned by a U.S. national named Imad Subheri to promote Sri Lanka in the United States. He further claimed that former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who authorized the payment, was responsible for the transaction and that the payment violated his fundamental rights.
When the case was taken up before the Supreme Court, Attorney Suren Gnanaraaj, appearing on behalf of Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, informed the Court that related cases had already been heard in two Magistrates’ Courts, and Mr. Cabraal had been acquitted in both. He further stated that an appeal filed in the High Court regarding those decisions had also affirmed the Magistrates’ rulings.
Accordingly, counsel argued that the allegation brought before the Supreme Court was baseless.
It was also noted that another individual had previously filed a case before the Court of Appeal concerning the same matters, and that court too had concluded that Mr. Cabraal was not guilty.
During the proceedings, the Attorney General’s Department presented submissions, along with junior counsel assisting President’s Counsel Farman Casim, who appeared for Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero.
After considering all submissions, the three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Padman Surasena, Justice Mahinda Samayawardena, and Justice Sampath Wijeratne dismissed the petition and ordered the case closed.
