News

FR application challenging Ranil’s appointment as an MP dismissed by Supreme Court

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/20

by Chitra Weeraratne

A Fundamental Rights violation application filed by Attorney-at-Law Nagananda Kodituwakku on behalf of the Vinivida Foundation, challenging the election of Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe as a Member of Parliament was dismissed by the Supreme Court yesterday.

Justices Gamini Amarasekera, Shiran Gooneratne and Janak de Silva, after hearing extensive submissions, dismissed the application.

The Petitioner had filed the Fundamental Rights application on the basis that the provisions of Article 99A of the Constitution had not been complied with, as the nomination of Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the member elected on the National List of the United National Party, pursuant to the 2020 General elections, had been submitted outside the timeframe stipulated in the Constitution.

Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka de Silva Balapatabendi appearing for the Attorney General submitted that the stipulation that the nomination should be done within a week was a directory provision as opposed to a mandatory provision.

DSG Balapatabendi argued that the Constitution should be interpreted in a manner that realizes the aim, scope and object of the provisions and submitted that if the time limit were to be interpreted as mandatory, it would directly affect the franchise of the people and that such interpretation should be avoided.

The DSG also took up two preliminary objections that the application of the Petitioner is time barred and that the Petitioner has misrepresented facts and that his conduct does not warrant the equitable jurisdiction of Court.

Ronald Perera PC appearing with Eraj de Silva for the 9th Respondent, Ranil Wickremesinghe, associated himself with the submission made by the DSG and emphasized that the Petitioner has even failed to serve papers on the 9th Respondent.

The Petitioner had also sought to quash the Gazette by which Dhammika Perera was elected as a Member of Parliament but failed to serve notice on the relevant Respondents.

The Supreme Court, in dismissing the application yesterday morning, held that the requirement in Article 99A of the Constitution that the nomination pertaining to the election of members on the National List should be done within a week, was a directory provision and should be so construed as any other interpretation would affect the franchise of the People. The Court also found that the Petitioner has misrepresented matters to the Court.

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News

Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre

Published

6 mins ago

2026/10/20

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to establish the proposed National Higher Performance Centre for atletes.

News

State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero

Published

16 mins ago

2026/10/20

Priyan

The cremation ceremony of the late Deputy Prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya,
Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha,
Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero who passed away on 18.10.2026 is scheduled to be held at the Gatambe Urban Council playground on 21.10.2026.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the joint resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments and the Minister of Buddha Shasana, Religions and Cultural Activities to conduct the cremation ceremony with state patronage.

News

Implementation of Suraksha Student Insurance Program for the Year 2026/2027

Published

23 mins ago

2026/10/20

Priyan

The Suraksha Student Insurance Program has been initiated with the primary objective of the creation of the necessary environment for the students who encounter various obstacles due to various health issues to overcome barriers and continue their education without any interruption.

The students studying in government schools, government approved private schools, Pirivenas and Assisted special schools are eligible to obtain the benefits under this program.

The Cabinet of Ministers, decided to grant their approval for the resolution furnished by the Prime Minister, in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, to revise and implement the currently enforced agreement regarding the aforementioned Suraksha Student Insurance Program between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation for the period from 01-09-2026 to 31-08-2027,
with the inclusion of the following new benefits as well.

• Providing the opportunity to claim benefits up to Rs. 75,000/- for repairing hearing accessories and for the service charges incurred thereof.

• Providing the opportunity to claim benefits up to Rs.20,000/-for the students who are taking medicines in long term for the diseases such as for chronic kidney diseases and Chronic
Inflammatory Arthritis.

• Providing the opportunity to claim benefits up to Rs.20,000/- for the expenses incurred for the tests Malignancy Screening Test for Skin Cancer, Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD), Screening Test for Osteoporosis, Screening Test for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.

• Revising ‘Cancer Treatment’ under the critical illness category to ‘Cancer Treatment and related Testing’, and covering expenses incurred for major surgeries required for hip, shoulder, and knee joint replacements due to sudden accidents, as well as PET Scans, under the critical illness category.

• Providing the opportunity to claim an amount of Rs. 100,000/- under the accidental category for student fatalities occurring due to sudden accidents during activities organized by institutions under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, and conducted under the supervision of educational authorities (such as educational terms/excursions and sports meets, etc.) either within or outside the school.