The District Court of Kesbewa has extended the enjoining orders previously issued against Amith Weerasinghe in a case concerning the internal administration of the recognised political party, the New Independent Front (Abhinava Nidahas Peramuna).

The case was instituted by the Chairman of the party, Oshala Herath, to restrain the convening of Executive Committee meetings contrary to the party Constitution, and prohibit Amith Weerasinghe from representing himself as the leader of the party or otherwise misleading the public in that regard.

When the matter was taken up today (13), Amith Weerasinghe and several other Defendants were present in Court and were represented by counsel.

Submissions were made on their behalf opposing the extension of the enjoining orders previously issued by the Court. However, the Court declined to vacate the orders and extended them until 27th March 2026.

Counsel appearing for the Plaintiff were Mr. Naveen Maha Arachchige and Ms. Kethmini Hasara, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Saduni Poornima Rathnayake. (Newswire)

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A Quo Warranto application has been filed against Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Professor Upali Pannilage, seeking his disqualification as an MP.

The application was filed by public interest litigant Oshala Herath at the Court of Appeal, stating that Prof. Upali Pannilage had been appointed as a Member of Parliament under the National People’s Power (NPP) National List and was appointed a Cabinet Minister while being an officer in a public corporation.

The petitioner points out that Minister Upali Pannilage was serving as an officer of the University of Ruhuna, which is a public corporation, making him hold a contract and interest in the contract made by or on behalf of the state. 

Pointing out that the Constitution of Sri Lanka bars individuals who hold any interest in public contracts from election as a Member of Parliament, the petitioner added that it is evident that Minister Upali Pannilage is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan social activist Oshala Herath is set to contest the upcoming Presidential Election from the New Independent Front Party. 

Issuing a statement, the New Independent Front Party announced that Oshala Herath will be fielded as their Presidential Candidate. 

The New Independent Front further said the decision had been taken during its Executive Committee meeting on June 13.

It added that the New Independent Front is an independent and recognized party under the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981. 

The party’s Presidential candidate Oshala Herath is known for having challenged former Parliamentarian Diana Gamage’s Parliamentary seat, over possessing dual citizenship. 

Following a court case filed by Herath, the Supreme Court this year announced that State Minister and SJB member Diana Gamage was not eligible to hold a seat in the Parliament of Sri Lanka due to her British Citizenship. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has determined that State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage is not eligible to hold a seat in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. 

The verdict was issued by the three-judge bench comprised of Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe and Janak de Silva when the petition filed against State Minister Gamage was taken up for consideration today.

Delivering their verdict, the justices held that Diana Gamage was not eligible to hold an MP post. 

Diana Gamage’s citizenship and right to hold a Parliamentary seat were challenged by a writ petition filed by civil activist Oshala Herath.

In his writ petition, the civil activist sought a ruling that Diana Gamage was unqualified to serve as a Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament due to her British citizenship.

Counsel Hafeel Farisz with Nishika Fonseka and Shannon Thilekaratne appeared for Petitioner Oshala Herath, while Farman Cassim PC appeared for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate today reported State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage to the court of appeal for the offence of contempt of court.

The magistrate in an order delivered today said that Gamage’s statement to a local TV station claiming that an order of the magistrate was leaked before it was delivered was a deliberate act of contempt.

This was after Counsel Hafeel Farisz made submissions regarding the statement by Gamage alleging that his client Oshala Herath published the order before it was delivered.

On April 24 the Magistrate made an order saying that there was sufficient evidence for the Criminal Investigations Department to arrest Gamage for violating the Immigrants and Emigrants Act.

Farisz said Gamage’s statement was made to influence the court of appeal which was due to deliver judgement in a matter regarding her Parliamentary seat on June 6.

An Officer in Charge of the CID S. Senarathne told the court that his investigation revealed that the order of the magistrate was not leaked to the media.

Magistrate Prasanna Alwis said that the statement was a blatant act of contempt and only the court of appeal could impose the punishment her statement deserves. (NewsWire)

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