The Supreme Court panel of judges on May 29 decided to refer the fundamental rights petition flied over the parliamentary seat of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to the chief justice.

The petition was filed by Senaka Haripriya De Silva requesting Jayantha Ketagoda, who was appointed to the parliamentary seat of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, removed from the position.

Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare, who was in the judge bench appointed to take up the petition on Friday (May 29th), stepped down citing that because of personal reasons he cannot take up the petition.

Appearing on behalf of the respondents, Deputy Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne made a preliminary objection in court and noted that the petitioner Senaka Haripriya De Silva had no legal basis to file the petition.

As the two remaining justices of the bench were of two different views over the preliminary objection, the petition was referred to the chief justice to appoint a different panel of judges to look in to the petition. Thereby the petition will be heard on June 15 before a separate panel of judges.

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