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Supreme Court decides:
Ameer Ali's expulsion invalid
Wasantha Ramanayake
The Supreme Court yesterday held that the expulsion of Disaster
Relief Services Minister Ameer Ali from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)
was invalid.
The Bench comprised Justice Asoka de Silva, with Justice Jagath
Balapatabendi and Justice S.I. Imam.
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Disaster Relief Services Minister MSS Ameer Ali along with
Co-operatives Minister Najeeb A. Majeed and Foreign Affairs
Deputy Minister Hussain Bhaila, leaving Supreme Court after
the SC’s decision. |
As a result of the court order the Minister continues to be a member
of the Parliament.
Petitioner Ali complained 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.
The petitioner stated he had been expelled from the SLMC allegedly
for being a member of the All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC). He stated
that he had never been a member of the ACMC although he had been
associated with the organization. He stated that several other SLMC
members too have been associated with the ACMC.
He stated he had been expelled from the party, without being heard
and sought a declaration that the decision to expel him from the SLMC
was null and void and that he has not ceased to be a member of the
Parliament.
The petitioner cited SLMC, its Leader Rauf Hakeem, SLMC Secretary
General M.T. Hassan Ali, Acting Parliamentary Secretary General Dhammika
Kitulgoda and the Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake as
respondents.
President's Counsel D.S. Wijesinghe with M.S. Saheed and Kaushalya
Molligoda appeared for the petitioner.
Nizam Kariappar appeared for the respondents.
Deputy Solicitor General S. Rajaratnam appeared for the Election
Commissioner. |
