Court restraints UNP Secy’s action

Sandasen MARASINGHE

COLOMBO: Colombo District Judge Sisira Ratnayake yesterday issued an enjoining order restraining the United National Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake from activating the letter dated June 13, 2007 sent by him which asked the 14 UNPers who joined the Government to show cause for their action.

The Court issued the order after considering the plaints filed by Darmadasa Bandara, Karu Jayasuriya, Gamini Lokuge, Mano Wijeratne and G.L. Pieris that cited UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake as the defendant.

The plaintiffs submitted that according to the letter sent by Tissa Attanayake to the 14 MPs who joined the Government that they were allegedly formed a separate group as United National Party Democratic Group without the consent of the UNP although they were elected to the Parliament as UNP members at the General Election held on January 29, 2006.

They also had passed several resolutions without the approval of the UNP. The letter asked them to show cause for their actions.

The plaintiffs pleaded that they with a group of 14 joined the government after the UNP and SLFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 23, 2006.

The plaintiffs pleaded that Tissa Attanayake was elected as the General Secretary at the UNP Annual General Meeting on November 19, 2006. The Plaintiffs pleaded that the AGM was illegal and was contrary to the UNP party Constitution.

The plaintiffs also submitted that there were several cases being heard before the Mount Lavinia District Court that challenged the appointments made at the said AGM and stated that the Tissa Attanayake’s appointment as the General Secretary at the AGM was illegal.

Plaintiffs prayed before the Court to issue an enjoining order restraining the operation of the letter dated June 13, 2007 sent by Tissa Attanayake.

President’s Counsel Ikram Mohamed with Thusitha Wijegunawardana instructed by Upula Fernando appeared for the plaintiffs.