The Supreme Court issued an interim order today, preventing the President from nominating judges to the Supreme Court, excluding the Chief Justice, until October 4.
This decision follows a Fundamental Rights petition filed by lawyer Sarith Maheeputhra Pathirathne.
The petitioner sought an order directing the Constitutional Council to approve the President's recommendation to appoint the current President of the Court of Appeal, Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, as a Supreme Court judge.
The petition named members of the Constitutional Council, including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sagara Kariyawasam, and others as respondents.
The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprised Justices S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Shiran Goonaratne. Faizer Mustapha PC, along with Counsel Saheeda Barrie, Mehran Careem, Naveen Maha Arachchige, and Amila Perera instructed by Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi, represented the petitioner.
