The Supreme Court has determined that the decision taken by the political party ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ to cancel the party membership of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera is in contravention of the law.
The verdict was issued when the petition filed by MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera was taken up for consideration today (Oct 13).
In his petition, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera had sought a ruling from the court that the decision taken by the ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ to cancel his party membership was in contravention of the law.
In October 2021, the ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ informed the National Election Commission and the Parliament in writing of its decision to cancel the party membership of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera.
The party said although the ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ had decided to vote against the Colombo Port Economic Commission Act, it had revoked Ven. Rathana Thera’s party membership in the wake of the disciplinary inquiry into the allegations that he had voted in favour of the Act at his own discretion.
The Supreme Court determination comes in the wake of the recent decision determining that the expulsion of Naseer Ahamed from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) was lawful.
The decision led to the disqualification of Naseer Ahamed as a member of Parliament, while his ministerial portfolio of Environment has been brought under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Meanwhile, a case is also being deliberated by the Supreme Court on the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the party.
When the case was taken up in court yesterday, the lawyer representing the two ministers informed the court that the SJB had not conducted a disciplinary inquiry as per the constitution of the party, adding that the party’s decision was unlawful.
The lawyer also informed the court that an injunction had been obtained at a district court against the SJB’s decision.
The case will be taken up again this month. (NewsWire)