Justice Prasanna recuses himself as statement is against Interim Order of his Bench

Contempt against Sarath Silva

By S.S. Selvanayagam

Justice Prasanna Jayawardena recused himself from being a member of the Bench before which the Contempt of Court allegation against former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva was called, for the reason that the alleged contemptuous statement is said to have been made against an Interim Order issued by a Bench of which Justice Prasanna Jayawardena was a member. The recusal was not for personal reasons. 

Respondent Sarath Silva is alleged to have made these contemptuous statements during a speech said to have been made on 3 December 2018.

There were a number of petitions against the declaration of dissolution of Parliament by the President.  

In case No. SC FR 351/2018 filed by former Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, the Bench comprising former Chief Justice Nalin Perera and Justices Priyantha Jayawardana and Prasanna Jayawardena issued the said Interim Order suspending the operation of the proclamation dissolving the Parliament.