Senior lawyer Shiral Lakthilaka says that the recommendations of the Batalanda Commission report cannot revoke former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s civil rights.
He further states that the Batalanda Commission was appointed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike under the amended second section of the Commission of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948, and that there is no provision to revoke civic rights under the provisions of that Act.
On a previous occasion, the civil rights of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike were revoked on the recommendations of a commission of inquiry. However, senior lawyer Shiral Lakthilaka points out that the commission was appointed under the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act No. 07 of 1978, and that the commission can make a recommendation to abolish c rights.