The Supreme Court today dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by three residents of Kelaniya against the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at the Independence Day celebrations on February 4 this year.

A three member bench headed by Justice Priyasath Dep gave this decision considering the submissions of the Attorney General.

The AG argued that the Tamil national anthem was sung according to the Article 7 and Schedule 3 of the Constitution.

Furthermore the AG inquired as to what fundamental right of the petitioners are violated by the singing of the national anthem in Tamil.

The three petitioners, Sanjeewa Perera, Pradeep Asiri Zoysa and Don Premaratne, sought a declaration that National Anthem shall be sung in Sinhala language with Sinhala words in accordance with the Third Schedule of the constitution.