Gen. Fonseka seeks MP seat; CA Writ fixed for 31 January

Tuesday, 17 January 2012 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday (16) fixed to be mentioned on 31 January the Writ application filed by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka seeking to sit and vote in Parliament.

Justice J.A. Nalin Perera fixed the matter to be mention as the Bench was not properly constituted.

Petitioner Fonseka is seeking the Court for an order directing the Respondents to take all necessary steps according to law to enable him to sit and vote in Parliament and to exercise his powers, privileges and immunities as a Member of Parliament.

Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kithulegoda, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, Returning Officer J. Sylvester, Commissioner General of Prisons Maj. Gen. V.R.de Silva, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, Lakshman Nipunarachchi and the Attorney General were cited as Respondents.

Romesh de Silva PC with Saliya Peiris, Sugath Caldera, Riad Ameen, Shanaka Cooray and Eraj de Silva instructed by Paul Ratnayake Associates appeared for Fonseka. Deputy Solicitor General Farzana Jameel with Senior State Counsel Arjuna Obeysekera appeared for the Attorney General.