Contempt of court case: ACMC Leader given time till 21 July to file objections

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and MP Rishad Bathiudeen has been granted time till 21 July by the Court of Appeal to file objections in respect of a petition that accuses him of having committed contempt of court.

The petition has been filed against the former Minister for failing to implement an order issued by the Court of Appeal to reforest a deforested area of the Marichchukaddi and Karadikkuli forest reserves near the Wilpattu National Park due to illegal human settlements. That ruling given several years ago in a case filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice.

The contempt of court petition was taken up before a two-judge bench consisting of Appeals Court President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar yesterday morning.

MP Bathiudeen was present in court. During the proceedings the MP’s lawyer President’s Counsel Faisz Mustapha requested more time to file objections.

The bench, granting the request, ordered the defence to file the objections before 21 July, 2023.

Later, the bench fixed the petition to be recalled on 28 August, 2023.