The petition filed by Parliamentarian Diana Gamage challenging Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel from her party was today fixed for argument by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court’s three-judge bench, comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Janak de Silva, and Achala Wengappuli, fixed the petition’s hearing for May 2.
In her petition, Diana Gamage said she has been expelled from the party membership following her decision to vote in favor of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The petitioner said she is not a member of the government but a Member of Parliament acting with independence and in accordance with her conscience, as demanded by the SJB Party’s Constitution.
Diana Gamage has cited the SJB General Secretary, its Chairman, Sajith Premadasa, the Secretary General of Parliament, the Chairman of the Election Commission, members of the Election Commission, and several others as respondents.
The petitioner is also seeking a declaration that the decision to expel her from the SJB, communicated to her via letter dated October 8, 2021, was made in violation of the constitution of the SJB.
Gamage stated that the party’s decision to expel members from party membership was unlawful and contrary to natural justice.
She is further seeking a declaration that the conduct of the purported disciplinary inquiry is in violation of natural justice and procedural proprieties and, therefore, null and void and has no force or avail in law.
President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa appeared for the petitioner.President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapha appeared with Farman Cassim PC, Keerthi Tillekaratne for SJB, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
President’s Counsel Ikram Mohomed and Thisath Wijeyagunawardena PC appeared for SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara.
