By This week, the Supreme Court issued a directive to the Attorney General, instructing them to provide a report by May 13 on the status of investigations into allegations of money laundering and defamation of Buddhism involving pastor Jerome Fernando.
The directive was issued during the hearing of two separate Fundamental Rights cases concerning the pastor. One case was filed by the pastor himself, while the other was filed against him by clergy members.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and justices Murudhu Fernando and Gamini Amarasekara presided over the petitions.
During the hearing, Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, PC, raised concerns over the lack of formal investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and questioned the police’s silence on the matter.
In response, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that investigations were underway. He stated that details regarding the money laundering allegations had been submitted to the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s courts, while investigations into the pastor’s alleged defamation of Buddhism had been completed.
However, Peiris noted a delay in providing a report due to a defect in the voice detection device. As a result, the CID had not been able to submit the necessary extracts to the Attorney General’s Department.
