Decision on Nagananda's petition against Ranil on Tuesday (19)

COLOMBO (News 1st); Attorney-at-Law Nagananda Kodituwakku told Sri Lanka's Supreme Court that if Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is not even suitable to be a member of parliament, is appointed as the Executive President of the country, it may have a negative impact on the future of Sri Lanka.

Nagananda Kodituwakku presented facts to the court seeking to invalidate Wickremesinghe's seat in Parliament.

However, the Supreme Court will meet on Tuesday to decide whether or not Nagananda Kodituwakku's will be taken up for examination.

Nagananda Kodituwakku notes that as per the provisions of Article 99 (a) of the Constitution a National List Member of Parliament should submit nominations within one week after the election, and pointed out that the name of Ranil Wickramasinghe was proposed after eight months of the election.

He argued at the Supreme Court that the appointment of Wickremesinghe had violated the constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act.

Nagananda Kodituwakku's application was taken up in the presence of Justices Gamini Amarasekera, Shiran Gunaratne, and Janak De Silva.

The application requests for an order to be made against Wickremesinghe preventing him from functioning as a Member of Parliament and preventing him from exercising his vote.

Nagananda Kodituwakku states that Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated in the recent elections, and was later appointed to Parliament from the National List.

He also argued that a person with no public mandate cannot be appointed to the Constitutional Council, and a person who was defeated at the polls being appointed to Parliament is illegal.

The Justices of the Supreme Court had pointed out that Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed to Parliament based on the number of votes received by the United National Party, adding that it was a legal avenue etched in the constitution to appoint MPs from the people's ballot.

The bench also directed its attention to the fact that the petitioner had not taken action to send notice to the respondents mentioned in the petition, including the Attorney General.

President's Counsel Ronald Perera appearing for Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that he had not received any documentation over the matter.