Senadhipathi seeks licensing

Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal seeking to register 91 guns owned by the company.

Senadhipathi states in his petition that if they failed to obtain licences for these guns they would have to be returned to the Defence Ministry.

According to the Firearms Act the company will also have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 on the unlicensed guns if he is unable to obtain licences for the 91 guns before 31 December 2015. Senadhipathi also faces five years rigorous imprisonment in the alternative.

Senadhipathi has cited Senior Superintendent of Police, Mahen Gunasekera (Colombo South), Saman Jayatilaka HQI Mirihana, J.N.S. Jayawardana OIC Administration, Kapila Jayawardana Deputy Inspector General (Colombo South) and Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon, Secretary Ministry of Defence, Karunasena Hettiarachchi and Sunil Kannangara District Secretary Colombo as respondents.

The petitioner further states that first respondent Mahen Gunasekera refused to recommend the petitioner’s application to get licences and wilfully delayed recommendation for malicious reasons. Therefore petitioner requests Court to issue a writ quashing the decision of first respondent refusing to recommend the petitioners application to obtain licences for the guns.

(Source: Ceylon Today – By Stanley Samarasinghe)