Preliminary objections were raised this week that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case against Lanka editor Chandana Ratnayaka, alias Chandana Sirimalwatte, who is charged with contempt of court.
The editor’s lawyer Saliya Peiris said the June 27 newspaper article made no reference to the Supreme Court and it only made reference to the President and the Judicial Service Commission.
According to Deputy Solicitor General Sanjaya Rajaratnam, any reference to the Judicial Services Commission is also a refererence to the Supreme Court. Counsel for the defence argued that under the law the Judicial Services Commission was a separate body. Court heard that at the outset of the case, Mr. Ratnayaka had offered to carry a clarification in his paper, but the offer was not accepted.
President’s Counsel Shibly Aziz, counsel for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, was asked to make a submission at the next hearing, on August 25. |
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