7 member Supreme court bench to hear petitions against Parliament dissolution

Nov 27, 2018 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Nalin Perera has appointed an additional four members to the Supreme Court bench to hear petitions filed against the dissolution of Parliament starting next week. The revamped bench will comprise the Chief Justice, Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira J de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna S. Jayawardena, Vijith Kumara Malalgoda, and Murdu Fernando. Earlier, a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice granted interim relief by issuing a stay order on the dissolution of parliament ordered by President Maithripala Sirisena on November 9. Following which Parliament was convened by the Speaker and a no confident motion passed against the newly elected Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Through these petitions filed, petitioners say that the right to franchise of voters of Sri Lanka has been affected by the sudden dissolution of Parliament. The petitioners cited the Attorney General, Chairman and the members of the Election Commission, Secretary to the President, Prime Minister and several others as respondents. The petitions have been fixed for argument on December 4, 5 and 6.