The Supreme Court yesterday gave the Attorney General time till August 24, 2009, to obtain instructions from the Defence Ministry, on the issue of granting permission to five Members of the Parliament to visit the IDPs in the Northern Province.

The five MPs are Jayalath Jayawardena, Lakshman Seneviratne (both UNP), Mangala Samaraweera (SLFP-M), Hassan Ali (SLMC) and Mano Ganeshan of the Western People’s Democratic Front.

They told the Supreme Court that on January 20, 2009, they had written to authorities concerned asking for permission to visit IDPs. Their request had been turned down. But foreign representatives had been allowed to visit the displaced.

Deputy Solicitor General, Ms. Indika Devumini de Silva, appeared for the Attorney General and the Defence Secretary.

Since this was an issue that dealt with national security, she moved for time, to obtain instruction from the Defence Ministry.

J. C. Weliamuna appeared for the petitioners.

The issue is to be supported in Court on August 24, 2009.