Prasanna Jayawardane recuses from Bench

Contempt case against Sarath Silva:

Justice Prasanna S. Jayawardena yesterday (8) recused himself from being a member of the Bench which is hearing the contempt of court allegation against former Chief Justice Sarath N.silva.

The matter came up before the bench comprising Justices Prasanna S. Jayawardena, Murudu M. B. Fernando and E.A.G.R. Amarasekera. When this case was taken up on February 8, 2019 Justice Prasanna Jayawardane recused himself from being a member of the Bench. Court deferred the matter for June 28.

The contempt of court petition filed against former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva by Senior Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Prof. Hewa Waduge Cyril, and Senior Prof. Prashantha Gunawardena. The petitioners state that on December 3, 2018, former CJ Sarath N.silva addressed a rally at Maradana junction organised by the ‘Jathika Ekamuthuwa’ organization, a group loyal to Mahinda Rajapaksa MP. They impugn that the first Respondent Sarath Silva made his speech in utter contempt of court particularly of the Interim Order delivered by the Supreme Court on November 13, 2018 Petitioners are seeking the Court to charge him on the offence of Contempt of the Supreme Court and to impose sentence on him.