CoA suspends remand of lawyer under contempt charges by Puttalam HC

The Court of Appeal (CoA) today suspended the remanding of an Attorney at Law under the charges of contempt of court by the High Court of Puttalam last Friday.

The CoA which convened today despite being a public holiday at the request of the President of the Bar Association due to the exceptional urgency and gravity of the matter, suspended the decision of the Puttalam High Court judge on March 28 until the final determination of the petition. 

Earlier, the Puttalam High Court remanded the lawyer under contempt charges for not bowing to the Court when addressing the Court when making a bail application to the Court. 

When the case was taken up, representatives from the Attorney General's department informed the court that the department does not object to the Court making appropriate order in the case. 

After hearing the submissions by petitioners, the Court decided it is fit to issue notice and grant interim relief including directing the Registrar to call for the entire record of proceedings in case No NWP/HC/PUT/SPL/02/2025 from the High Court of Puttalam. 

Along with the Puttalam High Court Judge Nadee Aparna Suwandurugoda, the Registrar of Puttalam High Courts, Commissioner General of Prisons, Superintendent of Werapola Prison and Attorney General were named as respondents. 

The Bench of the Court of Appeal consists of Justice Mohammed Laffar, Acting President of CoA and K.P. Fernando. 

Faisz Muthapha PC, with Saliya Pieris Pc, Faiszer Mustahapa PC, Senany Dayaratne, K.W. Asantha, S. Fernando, Thishya Weragoda, Niranjan Arulpragasam, Keerthi Thilajaratne, Nishadi Wickramasinghe, Janani Abeywickeram, Lakmini Mudannayake instructed by Senior Instructing Attorney G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for the petitioner. 

Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe with state counsel Navodi De Zoysa appeared for Attorney General.