The Court of Appeal today dismissed a writ petition filed by Sarvajana Balaya Party Leader and Parliamentarian Dilith Jayaweera, challenging the legality of a complaint made by the Colombo Fort Magistrate in connection with contempt of court proceedings.
A three-judge bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, Justice Chamath Morais and Justice Adithya Patabendige unanimously dismissed the petition in limine, meaning it was rejected at the preliminary stage without proceeding to a full hearing on its merits.
The petition had sought to challenge the legal validity of the complaint submitted by the Fort Magistrate in relation to the contempt of court matter.
With today’s ruling, the Court of Appeal has declined to grant the relief sought by Jayaweera in the writ application.
The decision comes in the context of ongoing legal proceedings concerning alleged contempt of court, with the complaint by the Fort Magistrate forming part of the proceedings.
Jayaweera, a Member of Parliament and leader of the Sarvajana Balaya, had approached the Court of Appeal seeking judicial intervention over the complaint and its legality.
The Court’s unanimous decision was delivered by the three-member bench today.
