The Court of Appeal will hear the Writ of Quo Warranto challenging Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s seat in Parliament on January 31.
The petitioner claimed that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was a shareholder of Lake House Printers and Publishers, a private company that is engaged in business activities with the government. Therefore, the petitioner said, Wickremesinghe had no authority to function as a Parliamentarian.
Wickremesinghe is a minor shareholder of the company. In addition to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, his cousin and Defence State Minister Ruwan Wijewardena is also a minor shareholder of the company. The largest shareholder of Lake House Printers and Publisher is Ranjith Wijewardena, Wickremesinghe’s uncle and the Chairman of Wijeya Newspapers Group.
The petitioner is Sharmila Gonawala, a political activist and an ardent supporter of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The petition was filed after the Court of Appeal barred former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from functioning in his purported position as the Prime Minister, by way of an interim order issued in relation to a Quo Warranto case filed by 122 MPs in the House challenging Rajapaksa’s continuation in office despite a no-confidence motion being passed in Parliament.
Lex Regal / January 22, 2019
This case is going to be a real test of impartiality of the legal system of this country.
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Back in December 2018, the Supreme Court denied the people their right of an election in the name of protecting the fundamental right of 123 crooked politicians, with six other judges rubber stamps one partisan judge’s decision
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Now the Court of Appeal has a chance to put that injustice right by sending this backbone-less wonder out of parliament, life in politics , hopefully to exile in his masters’ countries, the US or England.
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We pray to our gods while the Supreme Court would be praying to their western gods.
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K.Pillai / January 22, 2019
Rex Regal says ~ “Back in December 2018, the Supreme Court denied the people their right of an election in the name of protecting the fundamental right of 123 crooked politicians, with six other judges rubber stamps one partisan judge’s decision”.
This implies that that of the 225 MPs 102 are NOT crooked. Are you sure?
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The Rex Regal goes on ~ “Now the Court of Appeal has a chance to put that injustice right by sending this backbone-less wonder out of parliament, life in politics , hopefully to exile in his masters’ countries, the US or England”.
This suggests that the verdict you love to hear is the correct one! Be careful people may call you a bigot.
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Rex Regal’s last sentence is interesting ~ “We pray to our gods while the Supreme Court would be praying to their western gods”
Commonsense suggests that there must be only one god. If you are suggesting that this god is a myth, you are probably correct.
You may be called an irrational rationalist.
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Lex Regal / January 23, 2019
K. Pillai, the reported hot weather in Melbourne seems to have melted whatever remaining bits of your almost non-existent brain.
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Regular readers of CT are aware of Pillai who floods all articles appearing here with his inane comments, while claiming on others to be the ‘best English writer’ of Sri Lanka.
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The stupid comment (a re-presentation of my comment) and the attended smart-arse remark makes the man cross the barrier between a fool and an idiot. It does not deserve a response.
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No other village Saimon would be as idiotic as that.
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anonymous / January 23, 2019
Living in a ‘ Fools Paradise’
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Muhandiram / January 22, 2019
Should the judgement go against RW, it is most likely to be a blessing for the UNP because with a new Prime Minster, the UNP will have a new leadership and RW can say good bye to the UNP and also politics. The Rajapakse’s will lose their advantage with RW leading the UNP
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Saman Patabareiya / January 22, 2019
We are looking for fair justice for the Tax Payers right to elected that right person who engaged for clean politics of supreme institution of Parliament. No need to tell that leaders of People and country, their political parties , who are that responsibility of govern by helm of govt. be eligible for the clean politics.
He or she has must set example for other as well….governances of Democracies .
The good governances and rule of law are key pillars of democracy . Judiciary of Lankan has to proved beyond doubt not by words but in deeds there fairness of justice for to masses of Islanders.
If judiciary could not move for that an interpretation of law, what that public wanted straits to be address key issue committed by PM, while regardless his position!
Our system of rule of law and equality before having deficiencies even higher level of politician position have being appear that the before court of law. Many political leaders and political parties committed major crimes against Tax Payers have been escaped from court of law….!@
An Issue is put into simple form, law and rule of has to back to ours democracy order by Judges to restoration of rule of Law in Sri Lanka. We seek legal system should address by Judiciary and by Judgments.
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Saman Patabareiya / January 22, 2019
We are looking for fair justice for the Tax Payers right to elected that right person who engaged for clean politics of supreme institution of Parliament. No need to tell that leaders of People and country, their political parties , who are that responsibility of govern by helm of govt. be eligible for the clean politics.
He or she has must set example for other as well….governances of Democracies .
The good governances and rule of law are key pillars of democracy . Judiciary of Lankan has to proved beyond doubt not by words but in deeds there fairness of justice for to masses of Islanders.
If judiciary could not move for that an interpretation of law, what that public wanted straits to be address key issue committed by PM, while regardless his position!
Our system of rule of law and equality before Law having deficiencies even higher level of politician position have being appear that the before court of law.
Many political leaders and political parties committed major crimes against Tax Payers have been escaped from court of law….!@
An Issue is put into simple form, law and rule of has to back to ours democracy is in working order by Judges to restoration of rule of Law in Sri Lanka. We seek legal system should address by Judiciary and by Judgments.
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Amila / January 22, 2019
Shareholder means he is also a part of the business know so ranil and ruwan should defenitly loose mp posts. Probably it is good for unp too as this fellow is continuesly ruining the party since 1994 and also making the government unpopular. 2015 election too unp won marginally but this idiot did not do anything good to make the party and government stronger. He did not use the great opportunity he got back after the coup. Never learns never adapt abd arrogant type people are not suitable to lead a party or a country
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justice / January 22, 2019
I wonder whether ALL our parliamentarians have not been/ are not, involved in “business activities”?
Acquiring a vehicle on a Duty-free Permit and allowing, with a massive monetary persuasion – (undeclared to Inland Revenue), another person its use for profit – is a business activity, in addition to illegal undeclared income.
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Rajiv Tennekoon / January 23, 2019
Justice,
The issue is not a MP being involved in business activities.
The issue is that a MP is involved in business activities with the government.
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Robert Fernando / January 22, 2019
This is a case filed on flimsy claim by a person who does not seem to know the difference between a natural person and a legal person. A company gets a legal person’s identity free from its shareholders’ natural identity. When a company enters into a contract it is not the shareholders who enter into the contract. However, if the formation of the company is a mere sham but for all intents and purposes the shareholders are the real personnel running the show under the guise of a company, the court can go through the real membership and their intention in forming the company. Otherwise, this case would be non-starter!
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gamini / January 22, 2019
Lex Regal
Jackasses bray, but not as bad as yourself.
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Lex Regal / January 23, 2019
It looks like you trying to prove it!
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JD / January 23, 2019
Ranil wanted all the UNP parliamentarians to take part in Chasing Away SENA Caterpiilar. How do they do it. Each become a Sprayer man or they charge a largee amount of TRavelling to their ELECTORAL DISTRICT as they do not have electorates.
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JD / January 23, 2019
Ranil has not submitted his Asset informrion. Ranil also appointed his Henchmen – one Used car dealer from Australia or NEw Zealand. He had stolen Rs 80 million from, I think in addition to the bond scam profits he got. He left the country as soon as it came out.
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JD / January 23, 2019
Ranildistributed Wifi kits everychild in the Island by December 31st. I think Maithripala Sirisena is jealous about. Ranil is an alibaba and that is not a lie. He himself gets commis and all go to his extended family. He just needs UPPITI life style funded by the public.
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Kalu Albert / January 23, 2019
I saw Dr Ranil bragging on Ada Derana that he paid back USD 5000 Million debt to the West last year which he said was borrowed by MR.-
Dr Ranil went even further and said he could have paid another one thousand Million if he was not sacked in October.
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He was all smiles and promised that he is going to pay all the Debts of Lanakawe in the the next 3 to 4 years..
What a Dude this Dr Ranil when it comes to Fixing our Government Debt.
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This all thanks to the good judges of Lankawes Appeal Court Judges …
Even our inmates in Angoda won’t be expecting those learned Appeal Court and even HC Judges to sack Dr Ranil for holding a few Shares in his Uncles old Lake House..
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BTW wonder whether it is at least a Marketable Parcel?…
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JD / January 24, 2019
2018 is the only year that Sri lanka did not have to pay any debt installments. Ranil was LIE
ING.
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JD / January 23, 2019
The important thing is Every one in UNP says within the next few months, before the election, Sri lanka will be a paradise and evry one will live happiluy ever after.
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Ranjith(SPRRW) / January 23, 2019
so called clean man. Not so…….cleaned it seems ????????????????????????. Anyway Fair court ruling may be good thing for the country.West never allow poor countries to prosper.RW may be one of their pet boy. Good ruling is good for the country & its people.
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Real Revolutionist / January 23, 2019
Parasite out paradise made
People dream for it.
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K.Pillai / January 23, 2019
[“The petitioner is Sharmila Gonawala, a political activist and an ardent supporter of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.”]
What is the difference between a political activist and a politician? One thought that a political activist highlights the faults of politicians, without taking sides, hoping to improve the quality of politics.
If Sharmila Gonawela is ‘an supporter of former President MR’, she is a politician. She has caught MR’s attention.
Should RW worry too much as to the outcome on 31 January?
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nalmen / January 23, 2019
hope the petitioners succeed and we get rid of him once and for all
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Lanka Watch / January 24, 2019
RW should read all the comments, digest it and understand that he is hated by most of the people’ though people are reluctant to tell him, face to face as, he was in the party for donkeys ages but he still holds the position of the leader of UNP, thus depriving other two leaders Speaker Jayasuriya & Sajith Premadasa. who are in their prime, and clean, to accept leadership of the party. On the other hand MS &MR want him to be the leader so that they can take him for a ride.as done on previous occasions. I hope the people and UNP hierarchy take a bold step and remove him
from the leadership and 2020, he should not be there, in any capacity, not even as an advisor, so that the above two, with the support of the people can win all elections, whether it is Presidential or Parliamentary elections or even the Provincial elections
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RW should realize that enough is enough and give up the leadership Voluntarily
as he failed miserably in the political field and on many occasions he proved to
be not trustworthy. The Bond Scam is one of the many examples. He is no doubt
a good person and from a good family but politicians & unscrupulous persons
found it easy to drag him into scams.He failed all these years to realize that the crowds who attend UNP meetings are die hard UNPers and not his personal supporters.
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Sirisena Yatawara / January 25, 2019
The cases against govt. of ruling regime which that Judiciary act on slow motion or not act all by court of Judges . When it is against current regime of Primer and his Minister, which AG and Judiciary has covered operation , by all that charges put into shelf by judiciary .
Where is that “impartiality” and “equality before the Law” of every citizens is entitle by rule of Law. …Lanka?
We having that lost gradually confidences and credibility of legal system of Sri lanka…by proceeding judiciary and their Judges by action has been disappear court of Law. This is negative result that moving by Judiciary of Island.
Well, current UNP, TNA, &JVP regime has high-hand of interferences ongoing political regime and foreign influences Judiciary has shifted, that new height of unusual norms that proceed by Judiciary system of ruling of justice. It is moving towards by vested interest of UNP politically retain power by indefinitely by help of current court of law.
New trend has arise that unparliminatry political coup are moving against an undermined system of democracy by UNP regime and foreign -powers. The Nation Supremacy of Law, its Judiciary of that “Indepdenance” decaling by rapidly.
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