Court issues notice on Ranil

The Colombo District Cour t yesterday issued notice of interim injunction on United National Par ty (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and directed him to appear in Cour ts on February 22 to file objections.

The notice was issued by Judge G.A.D. Ganepola on the basis of the application made by Counsel Tisath Wijegunaratne who appeared for UNP souther n provincial councillor Maithree Gunaratne.

The petitioner sought a declaration by Court that Mr. Wickremesinghe’s election as UNP leader is ille gal and the December 19 election to elect party officials by secret ballot had contravened the party constitution.

The petitioner cited Mr. Wickramesinghe and UNP Secretary Tissa Attanayake as respondents.

Mr. Gunaratne said under Mr. Wickremesinghe’s leadership the UNP had lost all the elections since 2005 except the 2001 general election and the 2002 provincial council election.

Mr. Gunaratne also alle ged that the draft new constitution has allowed the party leadership to continue in his of fice till the end of the leader’s lifetime and asked that the Court orders the ballot papers to be produced in Court.

Counsel Tisath Wije gunaratna with Pasindu Wijenanda and Sanora Jayawardena instructed by Iranga Dewapura appeared for Maithree Gunaratna.