The lawyers representing controversial Sri Lankan Pastor Jerome Fernando today withdrew the writ petition filed seeking an order to prevent his arrest by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Pastor Jerome Fernando is wanted by the Sri Lanka Police after allegedly having made derogatory statements related to Lord Buddha, Islam, and Hinduism in front of a packed congregation.
Video footage of his remarks had caused an uproar among the followers of Buddhism in the country. Following the uproar, Pastor Jerome Fernando issued an apology regarding his controversial statement.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) obtained a travel ban against Pastor Jerome Fernando from the Fort Magistrate’s Court on May 15, but it was revealed that the pastor had left the country the previous day.
Pastor Jerome Fernando, thereafter, filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition requesting the court to issue an order preventing his arrest by the CID.
Last week, the Court of Appeal was informed by the Attorney General that an investigation has been launched against Pastor Jerome Fernando under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. (NewsWire)