A Fundamental Rights petition challenging the appointment of High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake as the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption was withdrawn from the Supreme Court today.
The petition was filed by a group led by Venerable Wewelduwa Gnanaprabha Thero, the incumbent of Udawalawe Soma Viharaya. It was taken up before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justices Mahinda Samayawardena, and Sampath Abeykoon.
At the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel informed the court that they sought permission to withdraw the petition. The bench granted the request, and the case was formally dismissed.
The petitioners had alleged that the appointment made by the President on January 10, 2025, was politically motivated and undermined the credibility and independence of the Constitutional Council. They claimed that the appointment violated the fundamental rights of the public and requested the court to declare the appointment null and void.
The petition also urged the court to instruct the Constitutional Council to recommend Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon for the post instead, and sought an interim injunction preventing Ranga Dissanayake from functioning in the role until the case was resolved.
