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| Wednesday, 12 January 2005 |
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| UNP issued notice on Rohitha's expulsion from party by Wasantha Ramanayake The Supreme Court yesterday issued notice on the United National Party in an expulsion case filed by Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development Minister Rohitha Bogollagama challenging his expulsion from the party. The court allowed the petitioner to give notices to the membership of the first respondent UNP through national newspapers in the three languages. The Bench comprised Justices Nihal Jayasinghe, Shirani Thilakawardane and N. K. Udalagama. Petitioner cited the UNP, its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema, General Secretary N.V.K.K. Weragoda, Parliamentary Secretary General Priyani Wijesekera and Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake as respondents. The Petitioner stated that he was one of the members of the UNP who took up the position that the two main Political Parties of the Country, should join hands in order to solve the basic and fundamental problems faced by the Country, with special emphasis on bringing about a Political Solution to the Ethnic Crisis. He stated that he was sworn in as the Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development on November 18, on the invitation of the President by her letter dated November 15. He stated that the President sought a participatory involvement of all Members of Parliament towards structuring a concerted effort in the implementation of a broad based National Agenda. The petitioner stated that he had taken over the Cabinet Portfolio whilst remaining a member of the UNP. He stated that fifth respondent Parliamentary Secretary General Priyani Wijesekera had informed him, that upon the termination of his membership of the UNP she would take steps in terms of Article 99(13) (a) of the Constitution to fill the vacancy upon the expiration of the period specified by law. The Petitioner stated that the actions of the party and of the fourth respondent, UNP General Secretary N. V. K. K. Weragoda were tantamount to an expulsion of the petitioner from membership of the party as contemplated in Article 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution. The petitioner sought to determine the purported expulsion of the petitioner as invalid. He also sought a declaration that the petitioner had not ceased to be a Member of Parliament and a declaration that the petitioner could continue to be a Member of Parliament. The court granted time to file objections before January 18. Counter affidavit to be filled on or before January 20. D. S. Wijesinghe PC with Ikram Mohammed PC instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared for the petitioner. The argument was fixed for January 25. |
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