Supreme Court Grants Maithripala Faction Two Weeks to Decide on Dayasiri Jayasekara's Party Membership Status

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has extended a two-week window for former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and ex-President Maithripala Sirisena, alongside several others, to deliberate on the withdrawal of a letter suspending the party membership of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara. The decision transpired during the hearing of an appeal petition filed by MP Jayasekara against the suspension, before Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Janak De Silva, and Priyantha Fernando.

Counsel representing the former President and other respondents conveyed to the Court the necessity for additional time to reach a conclusive decision. Subsequently, the Court acceded to their request, granting a two-week grace period.

Following the initial suspension of his party membership, MP Jayasekara, who also held the position of General Secretary of SLFP, pursued legal recourse by challenging the suspension in the Colombo District Court. However, the Court declined to issue an interim injunction against the suspension as per his request. Consequently, he escalated the matter by filing an appeal in the Western Province Civil Appellate Court, which similarly rebuffed the plea for an injunction. In response, MP Jayasekara filed the present appeal petition in the Supreme Court, with representation by President’s Counsel Ikram Mohamed.

The proceedings have been scheduled for further hearing on June 25, marking a pivotal juncture in the ongoing legal saga.

In light of the Supreme Court's decision to grant an extended timeframe for deliberation, the coming weeks are poised to be critical for the involved parties as they weigh the implications of Dayasiri Jayasekara's party membership status. With the next hearing slated for June 25, all eyes remain fixed on the unfolding legal proceedings, anticipating the eventual resolution of this contentious issue within the Sri Lankan political landscape.