Two Supreme Court judges, Justice Dilip Nawaz and Justice Priyantha Fernando, announced that they would recuse themselves from hearing petitions related to Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.
The petitions were filed by the relatives of 11 youths who were allegedly abducted and disappeared in Colombo and its suburbs in 2008.
The petitions challenge the Attorney General's decision to withdraw charges against Admiral Karannagoda, who was the Navy Commander during the time of the alleged incidents. The case was originally scheduled to be heard today before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Nawaz, Janak de Silva, and Fernando.
However, both Justices Nawaz and Fernando cited personal reasons for their recusal from the case. As a result, the hearing has been postponed and will now be heard before a new bench on September 15, 2025. The court aims to confirm the facts surrounding the case and proceed with the proceedings.
The petitions seek to hold Admiral Karannagoda accountable for his alleged role in the abductions and disappearances, which have remained a contentious issue for over a decade. The recusal of the two judges has raised further interest in the case, as the public and legal community await the outcome of the proceedings in September.
