CA reserves order on whether to issue summons on Sanath Nishantha for Contempt of Court

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Court of Appeal yesterday reserved for 29 Sept., the order on whether to issue summons on SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha.

Two lawyers, Priyalal Sirisena and Vijitha Kumara, have filed Contempt of Court applications under Article 105/3 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, requesting the Court to direct the Attorney General to draft show cause notice on Sanath Nishantha, asking him to explain to Court why he should not be punished for contempt of Court.

Upul Jayasuriya, PC, who appeared for petitioner Sirisena, told the Court that on 22 August 2022, the first respondent, Sanath Nishantha, had held a press conference at the Party Headquarters and insulted the Magistrates for granting bail to persons who were among the Galle Face protesters.

President of the Bar Association Saliya Pieris, PC, who appeared for petitioner Vijith Kumara, told the Court that what Sanath Nishantha had said about the manner in which bail had been granted amounted to an affront to the dignity of the Magistrate. He should be punished for Contempt of Court.

The Bench comprised Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice R. Gurusinghe.

On September 29, the Court will also decide on the order in respect of interim relief asked for in the petitions.