In response to a court case filed by former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Colombo High Court issued an interim injunction preventing Mathripala Sirisena from functioning as the chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on Thursday.

Kumaratunga had raised concerns over the manner in which Sirisena was appointed to the position of chairmanship as well as his role and the impact it had on the party. 

In response to the complaint, the High Court issued an interim injunction order restraining Sirisena from functioning as the chairman of the SLFP and from exercising any responsibilities as its leader. Although the interim injunction is a temporary measure, it may have an impact on the leadership structure and decision-making process of the party, as the island gears up for elections later this year.

The move comes after Sirisena controversially claimed that he was aware of who behind the deadly 2019 attacks on Easter Sunday which claimed the lives of over 250 people. The Maligakanda Magistrate Court has ordered Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the claims and submit a report on May 10.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, Sirisena told the CID that an Indian diplomat admitted Delhi’s involvement in the bombings.

He reportedly went on to claim that not only did the diplomat confess to being behind the attack but told Sirisena that it was “because Sri Lanka has not been considerate in giving India any projects, say like for example, the Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport and similar ventures”.

Kumaratunga herself stands accused of overseeing a host of war crimes under her tenure, including the 1995 Navaly Church bombing, the 1995 Nagerkovil school massacre, the 1996 Kumarapuram massacre, the 1998 Thampalakamam massacre; and the 1999 Puthukkudiyituppu massacre.

Read more here: ‘Before I could run bombs began falling’ - Remembering the Navaly church massacre