The Attorney General has submitted preliminary objections before the Court of Appeal, urging the dismissal of a petition filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando. The petition sought to invalidate the remand order issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate, which had detained the pastor in connection with controversial remarks he made about various religions.

Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema, representing the Attorney General, raised these objections during the court proceedings on December 18. The court has announced that a decision on these objections will be delivered on Wednesday, December 20.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate had issued a remand order on December 1, directing the custody of Pastor Jerome Fernando. The pastor faced legal trouble after a video of one of his sermons containing alleged derogatory statements about Lord Buddha and other religious figures went viral on social media.

The controversy led to his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), just hours after he appeared at the CID premises to record a statement for the second consecutive day. Subsequently, the Colombo Fort Magistrate deemed it necessary to remand the accused, sparking legal proceedings.

Pastor Jerome Fernando had left the country for Singapore on May 14, two days before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court imposed a travel ban on him. His return to Sri Lanka on November 29 reignited the legal proceedings against him.

Upon his return, the CID's Cyber Crime Investigation Division obtained a statement from the pastor within 48 hours, in accordance with a court directive.