Notice issued on Hakeem

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The Supreme Court yesterday issued notice on the respondents in the expulsion case filed by Disaster Relief Services Minister Ameer Ali.

In Terms of the Court Order, the petitioner should publish notice in newspapers in all three languages giving details of the case.

Petitioner Minister Ali cited the SLMC, its Leader Rauf Hakeem, SLMC Secretary General M.T. Hassan Ali, Acting Parliamentary Secretary General Dhammika Kitulgoda and Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake as respondents. The petitioner sated that the SLMC had communicated its decision dated February 24 to expel him from the SLMC. The petitioner stated that the decision was invalid and had no force in law.

He sought a declaration that the decision is null and void and he has not ceased to be a Member of Parliament. Objections to be filed on or before April 20.

President's Counsel D.S. Wijesinghe with M.S. Saheed and Kaushalya Molligoda appeared for the petitioner.

The argument was fixed for April 29 and 30.