Ex-Chief Minister files case challenging expulsion

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

Former Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister and UNP Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillor Jayathilake Podinilame yesterday filed a case in the Court of Appeal challenging his expulsion from the party.

Podinilame stated that he has been with the UNP for 22 years and had served as a Parliamentarian, a Provincial Councilor and the Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister. He said that he had been with the party despite its continuous defeat at several elections.

The petitioner stated that he had opposed the party decision to field a common candidate at the recently concluded Presidential Election. He stated he could not support the common candidate against his conscience, therefore supported President Mahinda Rajapaksa contrary to the party directions. Podinilame stated that the third respondent UNP General Secretary charge sheeted him; for supporting the President at the Presidential election, obtaining SLFP membership and meeting the President at President's House in Kandy.

He stated that the UNP working committee had illegally decided to remove him from the UNP on January 5. The petitioner stated that he had never obtained SLFP membership and he had not heard before that he had been expelled from the party.

The petitioner sought to set aside the decision of the UNP working committee to expel him from the party and nullify the decision.

The petitioner cited the UNP, its leader Ranil Wickramesinghe, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, and Sabaragamuva Provincial Council Secretary Lalith Dodankotuwa as respondents.