Petition challenging Ranil's position as MP to be heard on Jan 31

The writ petition challenging Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's post of Parliamentarian will be heard before the Appeal Court on January 31.

The petition was filed by Colombo Municipal Council member Sharmila Gonawela.

The petitioner claimed that Lake House Printers and Publishers - of  which Mr. Wickremesinghe is a shareholder, had entered into contracts to print checkbooks etc for state banks established as public enterprises by Parliamentary Acts.

The petition goes on to note that Mr Wickremesinghe personally enjoyed dividends from these contracts.

Further the petition claims  that according to Section 91 (1) (e) of the constitution, Mr Wickremesinghe can no longer hold a position in Parliament as it was in conflict .

Accordingly, the petitioner requested court to issue a quo warranto petition thereby barring the Prime Minister from functioning as an MP.

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