The Colombo High Court was Thursday ordered to stay the proceedings of the case filed against Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Yapa Senadhipathi and Major General Palitha Fernando in the Avant Garde bribery case due to an Interim Order issued by the Court Of Appeal.
At a previous occasion, the defence had filed preliminary objections before the court, which was dismissed by the Colombo High Court and fixed a date for further trial.
Accordingly, a writ petition was filed before the Court of Appeal by the defence challenging the Colombo High Court’s order to reject the preliminary objections raised by them. After considering the petition, the Court of Appeal had issued an Interim Order staying the Colombo High Court’s proceedings over the case on July 31.
When the case was yesterday taken up before High Court Judge Champa Janaki Rajaratne, President’s Counsel Ajith Pathirana appearing for the defence informed court that the Court of Appeal stayed the High Court case and issued notice to the relevant parties to appear before the Court of Appeal for the hearing of the appeal on September 7.
Accordingly, the President's Counsel sought from the High Court to postpone the case until final determination of the Court of Appeal over the petition.
After considering all the facts, the Colombo High Court judge observed that could not come to a definite conclusion on the date on which the Court of Appeal would hear the petition.
Accordingly, the case was ordered to be taken up again on December 18.
