The Court of Appeal today issued an order directing the SLPP party headquarters and three television channels to provide the video recordings pertaining to the alleged contemptuous statement made by State Minister Sanath Nishantha.
State Minister Sanath Nishantha was today present before the Court of Appeal when the matter came up before Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne.
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. Senior State Counsel Hashini Opatha, appearing for the Attorney General, submitted to the court that the prosecution is in the process of drafting the charge sheet intended to be filed against the State Minister.
The contempt of court applications was fixed for December 12. The State Minister was summoned to appear before the Court on the next scheduled hearing date.
The Court of Appeals had earlier Sanath Nishantha was summoned to show cause why he should not be punished for 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 amounted to direct interference with the due and proper administration of justice.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka. The State Minister was represented by Faiz Mustapha PC.
