The contempt of court cases filed against State Minister Sanath Nishantha are fixed for July 13

Three contempt of court cases filed against State Minister Sanath Nishantha in connection with the alleged contemptuous statement were today fixed for July 13 by the Court of Appeal. The Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSASL), the organisation representing all the District Court Judges and Magistrates in the country, and two lawyers had filed a contempt of court application seeking an order to punish State Minister Sanath Nishantha for the offence of Contempt of Court over a statement he made recently. The Court of Appeal had earlier issued a summons to Sanath Nishantha to show cause why he should not be punished for the charges of contempt of court. The JSASL President Magistrate Prasanna Alwis, its Secretary Additional District Judge Pasan Manoj Amarasena, and two lawyers, Vijitha Kumara and Priyalal Sirisena, filed these applications, naming State Minister Sanath Nisantha as the respondent. The petitioners are seeking an order to punish State Minister Sanath Nishantha for the offence of Contempt of Court. The petitioners stated that on August 23, 2022, Sanath Nishantha, addressing a press conference held at the party headquarters of the SLPP, made a statement that amounts to a direct interference with the due and proper administration of Justice.