Petition against Sandagiri’s appointment put off

A fundamental rights petition filed by a typist against the appointment of Rear Admiral Daya Sandagiri to the post of Deputy Secretary of the Defence Ministry was postponed to January 18, 2007. The petitioner Charles Peter Wiggin cited Rear Admiral Sandagiri and 27 others as respondents.

He said that as the Rear Admiral was being investigated for corruption relating to arms and ammunition purchases for the Sri Lanka Navy, he was not eligible to hold such a high ranking post. He also stated his fundamental rights and those of citizens of Sri Lanka has been violated. Senior State Counsel Ms. Demuni de Silva informed Court that a Cabinet memorandum has already been presented to obtain the approval to suppress the post of Deputy Secretary, Defence Ministry and Rear Admiral Sandagiri informed by letter that he no longer held the said post.

Supreme Court Judges N.K. Jayasinghe, N.Udalagama and Gamini Amaratunga said that the petitioner was not present in court and was unrepresented.

The judges decide to mention this order on January 18, 2007 and extend the interim order till January 19, 2007. If there was no appearance for the petitioner on that date the application stands dismissed.