The Colombo District Court yesterday rejected the objections submitted by the defence and extended the injunction order until April 2, issued against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa and three other party members, preventing the suspension of SJB Chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s party membership, his positions and taking of disciplinary action against him.
When the petition was taken up before Colombo Chief District Judge Sandun Vithana, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing for the defence made a lengthy submission and raised an objection stating that the Court should not interfere in the internal matters of political parties.
President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha appearing for the plaintiff Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka also made a lengthy submission stating that there must be a legitimate basis for removing a member from a party, and in this case, there isn’t one.
After considering the submissions made by the both parties, Colombo District Judge Sadun Vithana ordered the rejection of the objections made by the defence and extended the injunction order until April 2.
On a previous occasion, after considering a petition filed by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Colombo Chief District Judge Sandun Vithana issued a restraining order against SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, its General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National Organizer Tissa Attanayake and Treasurer Harsha De Silva.
Petitioner Sarath Fonseka had cited in the petition that information had been published in the media that the SJB was preparing to take disciplinary action against him based on his comments against former Army commander Daya Ratnayake joining the SJB.
Petitioner Sarath Fonseka had sought from the Court to issue an order to prevent disciplinary action and suspension of positions against him in such an unfair manner and to issue an injunction preventing the suspension of his party membership and positions held in the SJB.
Dilshan Tharaka