Court of Appeal President Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna, against whom the National People’s Power (NPP) government was preparing to move an impeachment motion, has handed over his letter of resignation to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, it was reported. 

According to the state newspaper Dinamina, therefore, the government has decided to halt the impeachment motion that was supposed to be brought to oust Justice Karunarathna.

Justice Karunarathna has informed President Dissanayake that he has decided to resign with effect from 01 February 2025.

He was due to retire on 16 June this year upon reaching 63 years, the retirement age for Appeal Court judges.

Earlier, it was reported that the government was planning to bring an impeachment motion against Justice Karunarathna, allegedly citing his recent performance.

Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna, who started his judicial career as a magistrate and later became the President of the Court of Appeal, was recommended to be appointed to the Supreme Court by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

However, the Constitutional Council rejected the former President’s nomination, while an attorney-at-law subsequently filed a fundamental petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional Council’s decision. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition in December last year. 

According to media reports, the Government is considering using some of the observations made by the Supreme Court in its judgment as the basis for its impeachment motion against Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna. (Newswire)

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The signatures of over 100 Parliamentarians have been obtained for the motion of impeachment to be submitted by the government against Court of Appeal President Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna. 

According to the state newspaper Dinamina, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala said that the signatures of a total of 118 MPs have been obtained as of now. 

He further said that the government has taken a decision to submit a motion of impeachment against Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna.

Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala revealed that the process of obtaining the necessary signatures for this purpose has been completed. 

Stating that there were reports of Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna set to resign from his post, the Deputy Minister said inquiries will be made in this regard after which the government will decide its future action.

It is reported that Court of Appeal President Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna is set to retire in the coming days. (Newswire)

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The Fundamental Rights petition filed, challenging the Constitutional Council’s decision to reject former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s nomination of Court of Appeal President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna as a Judge of the Supreme Court, was dismissed by the Supreme Court today.

Supreme Court three-judge bench led by Justice Preethi Padman Surasena dismissed the petition subject to Rs. 02 million in legal costs.

The petition was filed by Attorney-at-Law S.M. Pathirathne requesting a ruling that the Constitutional Council’s decision to reject the appointment of the relevant judge violates his fundamental rights. (Newswire)

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