Petition challenging excess of Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers re-fixed for March 23

By Chitra Weerarathne

A petition filed by a person named Kapila Renuka Perera that at present there are 32 Cabinet Ministers and 44 State Ministers although the Constitution permits only 30 Cabinet Ministers and 40 State Ministers was refixed for Support on 23 March. Perera has in his petition argued that the government has violated Article 47(1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution, and that the Cabinet is illegal and should be abolished.

Perera, an engineers by profession, has named a total of 82 respondents including the Attorney General on behalf of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the other members of the Cabinet, all State Ministers, Secretary to the President, the Secretary to the Finance Ministry and several others.

Counsel Dharshana Weraduwa obtained permission from the Court to amend the caption because the Secretary to the Cabinet has changed from Dr. P. B. Jayasundera to Gamini Sedera Senarath.

Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva PC and Additional Solicitor General, Nerin Pulle PC appeared for the Attorney General.

The bench comprised Justice Murdhu Fernando, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Shiran Gooneratne.