Rajapaksa appeals to Supreme Court over Easter bombing investigation

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa approached the Supreme Court on Friday with a petition seeking protection from arrest in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which claimed nearly 270 lives across multiple locations in Sri Lanka.

The petition was filed after the Court of Appeal dismissed Rajapaksa's writ petition on October 1 without scheduling a hearing. The earlier appeal had sought judicial intervention to prevent his arrest under provisions of the counter-terrorism legal framework.

The Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019 targeted churches and hotels across the country, resulting in one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Sri Lanka's history. The bombings prompted extensive security operations and subsequent legal proceedings.

Rajapaksa, who served as President from 2019 to 2022, has faced multiple legal challenges since his departure from office and subsequent relocation abroad. His current petition represents an attempt to use the country's highest court to obtain protection from arrest related to the bombing investigations.

The Supreme Court's response to the petition remains pending.