Seven-member judge bench for petitions on parliament dissolution

Chief Justice has appointed a seven-member full judge bench to hear the petitions filed against the dissolution of the parliament.

The justices appointed to the bench are,

Nalin Perera
Buwaneka Aluwihare
Sisira de Abrew
Priyantha Jayawardena
Prasanna Jayawardena
Vijith Malalgoda
Murdu Fernando

Thirteen fundamental rights petitions were filed at the Supreme Court asking it to declare that the President’s order to dissolve the parliament is illegal. 

The petitions have been filed by political parties including United National Party (UNP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and the All Ceylon People’s Congress. Organisations and activists such as the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Attorney Aruna Laksiri and also a member of Elections Commission Prof. S. R. H. Hoole have also filed petitions.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court has issued an interim order temporarily suspending the Gazette notification issued by the President on the dissolution of Parliament. An interim order was also issued on the Elections Commission preventing the holding of a general election.

The stay orders have been issued effective until December 7 and the petitions have been fixed for argument on December 4, 5 and 6.