Ponsuge Sanjeewa Tisera and another vs. Hon. Attorney General – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 368/2016-2023

In the case between Ponsuge Sanjeewa Tisera and Sebastian Jude Shakespeare (petitioners) and Singappulige Deeptha Rajitha Jayantha, Kamal, and the Hon. Attorney General (respondents), the legal issue addressed was the lawfulness of the arrest and detainment of the petitioners for alleged offenses relating to the transportation of meat without proper permits on a Poya day, and whether such actions constituted a violation of constitutional rights under Articles 12(1) and 13(1). The findings determined that the arrest was carried out on vague and speculative grounds, lacking reasonable suspicion and proper legal basis. It was concluded that the petitioners’ rights to equality before the law and protection from arbitrary deprivation of liberty were violated. The statutory framework and evolvin