Appeal Court hears petition against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's position as MP

The writ petition filed against the parliamentary position of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesignhe was taken up before the Appeal Court today (Feb 12).

At the commencement of today's hearing, attorney's representing the respondents including the Prime Minister had requested court to dismiss the case in the first hearing itself.

President's Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran while presenting his arguement had claimed that the petitioner had attached uncertified photocopies of the documents which she had submitted before courts to prove her case.

He also requested court to dismiss the case since Section Three of the Supreme Court regulations state that a photocopied document which is submitted as evidence for a case is considered invalid.

However, Presidents Counsel Uditha Igalahewa had argued that the orginal copies of the documents had been attached by the petitioner.

Accordingly, court ordered the prosecutors to file counter objections against the respondent's arguments on February 26.

The petition which was filed by Colombo Municipal Council member Sharmila Gonawela is being heard before Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Priyantha Fernando.

Ms. Gonawela in her petition had claimed that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who is a shareholder of Lake House Printers (Pvt) Ltd. cannot function as a parliamentarian since Article 91 (1) (e) of the constitution forbids any parliamentarian to enter into trade agreements with the government.

Accordingly, the petitioner requested court to impose an interim injunction on the Premier to bar him from functioning as a parliamentarian.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the Secretary-General of Parliament and several others were named as repondents in the case.