Any attempt to defy court order will be in contempt - Saliya Peiris PC 

Former Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Saliya Peiris PC has said that any efforts by any party to deft the Supreme Court order temporarily prohibiting Deshabandu Tennekoon from serving as the Inspector General of Police will be considered contempt of court and will hold no legal validity.

Posting on his personal social media page, former BASL President Saliya Peiris PC responded to reports that the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to review the Supreme Court order on the IGP position and its legal implications. Peiris emphasised that, regardless of the Cabinet’s forthcoming decision, Deshabandu Thennakoon remains legally barred from functioning as the IGP until the court reaches a final verdict on the matter.

“This order of the Supreme Court is operative now. Orders of courts cannot be overturned by Cabinet decisions.  Thennakoon can no longer exercise the powers or functions of the IGP. Any attempt to defy the court order by any party will be contempt of court and will have no legal force,” he said. 

Peiris is also acting as a Counsel for a petitioning party in the Fundamental Rights petitions filed against Thennakoon.