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Sri Lanka president rejects US court summons
Sri Lanka's president has cited constitutional immunity and refused to go before a US court where he is being sued for $30 million over the killing of a Tamil man, an official said Sunday.
A US-based Tamil lobby had filed the case claiming damages from him as commander-in-chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces for the alleged killing of Raghiar Manoharan, a member of the island's ethnic Tamil minority.
"Under our laws, the president has immunity," justice ministry secretary Suhada Gamlath told AFP.
"We don't have to respond to such summons and I have written to the District Court of the Southern District of Columbia of our legal position last week," Gamlath said.
The summons on Rajapakse was first delivered to his "Temple Trees" residence in Colombo where it was not accepted, officials said adding that the court order was later accepted by the justice ministry.
Gamlath said under Sri Lankan law, Sri Lanka could dismiss the summons as the head of state enjoyed immunity guaranteed to him under the constitution.
The local Sunday Times newspaper said the case was filed when Rajapakse made a private visit to Texas earlier this year. Later the case was transferred to the District Court in the District of Columbia.
The report said Rajapakse was due to visit New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly sessions.
Lanka Business Report
Sri Lanka's president has cited constitutional immunity and refused to go before a US court where he is being sued for $30 million over the killing of a Tamil man, an official said Sunday.
A US-based Tamil lobby had filed the case claiming damages from him as commander-in-chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces for the alleged killing of Raghiar Manoharan, a member of the island's ethnic Tamil minority.
"Under our laws, the president has immunity," justice ministry secretary Suhada Gamlath told AFP.
"We don't have to respond to such summons and I have written to the District Court of the Southern District of Columbia of our legal position last week," Gamlath said.
The summons on Rajapakse was first delivered to his "Temple Trees" residence in Colombo where it was not accepted, officials said adding that the court order was later accepted by the justice ministry.
Gamlath said under Sri Lankan law, Sri Lanka could dismiss the summons as the head of state enjoyed immunity guaranteed to him under the constitution.
The local Sunday Times newspaper said the case was filed when Rajapakse made a private visit to Texas earlier this year. Later the case was transferred to the District Court in the District of Columbia.
The report said Rajapakse was due to visit New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly sessions.
Lanka Business Report
