Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said he does not believe recent remarks made by National People’s Power (NPP) MP Lakmali Hemachandra amount to contempt of court, following criticism of her comments during a public meeting.

At a Provincial Coordination Committee meeting in Colombo, Hemachandra appeared to urge officials not to enforce a court order to evict squatters from state land in Narahenpita.

“We spoke about this earlier. I told you not to implement the court order, because those people have nowhere to go. Didn’t we agree on that?” she said during the meeting.

In a televised interview with Kalindu Karunaratne of Ada Derana, Nanayakkara responded to a report by The Morning, reiterating that, in his view, Hemachandra’s statement did not constitute contempt. He stressed that it is ultimately up to the court to make such a determination.

Nanayakkara also noted that the court order in question did not include a deadline or require officials to report back to the court.

“There are many such eviction orders. If they were all implemented, at least a third of Colombo would be displaced,” he said.

He added that the government must act with a broader policy perspective, stating that the issue dates back to April 2024 and that residents should be relocated before any eviction is carried out.
“The government can take a policy decision without it amounting to contempt of court,” Nanayakkara said.

When pressed by the journalist about the potential precedent set by Hemachandra’s remarks, the minister disagreed with the suggestion that her statement was improper.

“I spoke to Lakmali about this. I don’t believe that disregarding a court order was her intention. It may appear so when the statement is taken out of context,” he said. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has issued a notice against the former President and former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena over contempt of court allegations. 

The notice was issued following a contempt of court petition filed against him by Montague Sarathchandra, an executive committee member of the SLFP.

In his petition, Montague Sarathchandra claims that the former President committed contempt of court through his actions in violation of a court order issued by the Colombo District Court preventing him from acting as the Chairman of the SLFP.

Taking up for consideration the petition today (May 30), the Court of Appeal ordered the petitioning party to send notice to Maithripala Sirisena. 

The order was issued by the two-member judge bench comprising of the President of the Court of Appeal Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Shashi Mahendran in order to confirm the facts related to the petition. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has issued a notice to former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra to appear before the Court on charges of Contempt of Court.

The notice was issued on Wednesday (Apr 17) by the Court of Appeal two-judge bench consisting of Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dammika Ganepola after hearing submissions made on behalf of the complainant. 

According to the complainant Hisham Jamaldeen, former MP Hirunika had made a statement to the media regarding the order of the Magistrate in granting bail to him, whilst there is an ongoing proceeding before the Magistrate’s Court of Mount Lavinia.

It was submitted that inter alia this is tantamount to interference with ongoing judicial proceedings and an attempt to create suspicions in the minds of the general public towards the administration of justice.

It was claimed that such a statement was contempt of court and an application was made for a ruling to be issued against Hirunika Premachandra for committing the offence of Contempt of Court.

Accordingly, a notice was issued for former MP Hirunika Premachandra to appear before the Court of Appeal on May 08, 2024. 

Nishan Sydney Premathiratne with Gamindu Karunasena, instructed by Sarravanan Neelakandan Law Associates, appeared on behalf of the complainant. (Newswire)

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The consideration of petitions filed against the late State Minister Sanath Nishantha over contempt of court charges has been moved to February.

The decision was announced by the Court of Appeal’s two-member judge bench consisting of Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola today (Jan 31).

Taking into consideration the demise of the late Sanath Nishantha, the justices ordered that future actions to be taken concerning the petitions will be decided on Friday, February 02, 2024. 

The relevant petitions against the late former State Minister were filed by Attorney-at-Law Priyalal Sirisena and Attorney-at-Law Vijitha Kumara. 

The late Sanath Nishantha was accused of contempt of court by several parties in August 2022 for stating that the officers from the Attorney General’s Department and some judges were responsible for letting loose criminals who engaged in the violence in Sri Lanka in May that year. (NewsWire)

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Two charge sheets have been filed against State Minister Sanath Nishantha over contempt of Court charges. 

The Court of Appeal was informed in this regard by the State Counsel appearing on behalf of the Attorney General today (23).

The facts were presented to the court when three petitions filed against the SLPP MP by Attorneys-at-Law Priyalal Sirisena and Vijitha Herath, and the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSASL) were taken up for hearing. (NewsWire)

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