The Court of Appeal directs the Attorney General to formulate contempt charges against Parliamentarian Santh Nisantha.

September 29, 2022

The Court of Appeal today directed the Attorney General to draft contempt papers against State Minister Sanath Nishantha in connection with two contempt of court matters filed against him by two lawyers.

The lawyers, Vijitha Kumara and Priyalal Sirisena had filed these applications against newly elected State Minister Sanath Nishantha for committing the offence of Contempt of Court under the provisions of the Constitution.

A two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice R. Gurusinghe further issued summons to State Minister Sanath Nishantha to appear in court personally on October 13.

In these petitions, the petitioners state that Sanath Nishantha has been named as a suspect in a case before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court for attacking Galle Face protesters on May 9, 2022, and the investigations are still being carried out by the CID.

The petitioners stated that on or around August 23, 2022, Sanath Nishantha, addressing a press conference held at the party headquarters of the SLPP, made certain comments on the judiciary of Sri Lanka, especially in relation to the judicial officers.

The petitioners state the remarks made by MP Sanath Nishantha are in contempt of court inasmuch as the said remarks are calculated to undermine the authority of the judiciary, including the court of the first instance. They further alleged that the said remarks were calculated to bring the judiciary and the members of the judiciary into disrepute.

The petitioners further maintained that remarks made by MP Sanath Nishantha are calculated to undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

The petitioners are further seeking an order to punish parliamentarian Sanath Nishantha for committing the offence of contempt of court under and in terms of Article 105(3) of the Constitution.

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