CA defers petition for Nov 30

Petition against MR and Ministers

Court of Appeal yesterday (26) deferred for November 30, the Petition disputing the holding of office by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Ministers.

The Bench comprised Justices P. Padman Surasena (President/ca) and Arjuna Obeysekera.

The Petition for Writ of Quo Warranto was filed by purported Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his purported Ministers as well as Parliamentarians of diverse parties totaling 122 petitioners.

President’s Counsel K. Kanagiswaran appeared for the Petitioners who are seeking a mandate from the Court requiring the Respondents to show by what authority they claim to function as Prime Minister, Ministers and Deputy Ministers. They are also seeking declaration from the Court that the Respondents are not entitled to hold these offices and are asking the Court to restrict the Respondents from functioning until the final determination and hearing of their application. Petitioners in their petition state as follows: “On 14th November 2018, Parliament passed a vote of no-confidence against the purported government of the Respondents.

“On 15th November 2018, Parliament convened again and the Speaker stated that in view of the no-confidence vote passed on 14th November 2018, there was, among other things, no government and that he did not recognize Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister.

“On 16th November 2018, because the Respondents purportedly continued to function in office, Parliament passed another vote of no-confidence against the government.

“Therefore under and in terms of Article 48 of the Constitution, the Cabinet stood dissolved from 14th November 2018,” Petitioners claim.