SLFP could hold diciplinary inquiry against Sripathi at any time - Judge

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo District Judge Sisira Ratnayake yesterday observed that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had the authority to hold a disciplinary inquiry at any moment against former Minister Sripathy Sooriyaarachchi following the due procedure if he had violated party discipline.

The District Judge made this observation while issuing the interim injunction restraining the SLFP from holding the disciplinary inquiry against Sooriyaarachchi as he was informed through the letter dated July 10, 2007 by the SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena.

The Court observed that holding the purported disciplinary inquiry was against the natural justice since the plaintiff did not have the chance to show cause against two of the charges of the charge sheet sent to him by SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena.

Sooriyaarachchi filed a plaint before the Colombo District Court citing SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, Vice Presidents A.D. Susil Premajayantha, W.D.J. Seneviratne and members Vishva Warnapala, Champani Padmasekara, Palitha Mathew and W. Karunajeewa as defendants challenging a letter dated July 10, 2007 that informed him that a disciplinary inquiry which would be held on August 4.

The SLFP in two charge sheets alleged that Sripathy had damaged the SLFP by the acts of sitting in the opposition while being a SLFP member on June 19, 2007 and by establishing SLFP Mahajana Wing.

According to one charge sheet, sent to the plaintiff on March 30, he had acted against and criticised the actions of the SLFP. He had made false statements about SLFP, policies and actions of SLFP and leadership.

He also had made false statements against the Government established under the guidance of the SLFP leadership.

Plaintiff further said in another charge sheet, he damaged the SLFP by the acts of sitting in the opposition while being a SLFP member on June 19, 2007 and establishing SLFP Mahajana Wing. He was not given the opportunity to show cause pertaining to the matters in the second charge sheet. Further the plaintiff submitted that the charges in the charge sheet were not clear.

Romesh de Silva PC with Viraj de Silva instructed by Paul Ratnayake associates appeared for the plaintiff.

Palitha Kumarasinghe PC appeared for the first defendant while Kushan de Alwis appeared for second defendant instructed by Attorney Upendra Gunasekara. S.S. Sahabandu PC appeared with Palitha Gamage instructed by Koggala Wellala Bandula for fifth defendant. Attorney Dinal Philips appeared for 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th Defendants instructed by Ruwan Rodrigo.