Case against expulsion of UNP MP:
Court issues injunction order
Roshan THUSHARA
The Colombo District Court yesterday issued an injunction order
preventing the UNP from taking any action to dismiss UNP parliamentarian
Earl Gunasekera who expressed support to the government.
This injunction order was issued on UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe,
General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and members of the Executive
Committee. The order issued by Colombo Chief District Court Judge
Ranjith N Wathupola is in force till the court inquiry is over.
Gunasekera who held the post of additional treasurer of the UNP filed
this case on September 10, 2010 through attorney at law Athula de Silva
against UNP leaders who attempted to dismiss him from the party. The
Court had issued an interim order preventing Gunasekera from being
removed from the UNP after a lengthy submission made by attorney at law
M.U.M. Ali Sabri.
This interim order expired yesterday. The UNP General Secretary sent
a letter to Gunasekera to show causes for extending support to the 18th
Amendment of the Constitution within 14 days.
Gunasekera filed action against this move by Attanayake and other
party leaders. Gunasekera in his plaint also cited that the party
leaders were attempting to expel him from the membership of the party in
an illegal manner. The parliamentarian in his plaint explained as to why
he decided to extend his support to the 18th Amendment of the
Constitution in Parliament. He pleaded court to issue an order that can
prevent UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from removing him from the
party.
Gunasekera stated that he decided to extend his support to the 18th
Amendment of the Constitution on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s
invitation.
Lawyers appearing for the respondents stated that Gunasekera has
violated the party constitution. The court ordered the respondents to
make their submission on October 7. The case was fixed for October 7. |