Home

News

Politics

Issues

Focus

Editorial

Spotlight

Insight

Sports

Business

Review

Arts

Letters

Nutshell

Interviews

Fashion

Archives

Contempt of court cases
against Sripathi, Wedisinghe 

Contempt of court charges are to be filed tomorrow against Deputy Sports Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), ITN and ASP Srinath Wedisinghe for making false allegations concerning the attempted arrest of UNP MP, Ravi Karunanayake.

The contempt charges are to be based on statements made by Sooriyarachchi and Wedisinghe in addition to ITN and SLRC for alleging there was a court order to arrest Karunanayake and that he had absconded.

It is now revealed there was no court order issued and Fort Magistrate Sarath Karunaratne on Thursday said in open court no such warrant was issued and advised the police and the state media not to draw the court into political disputes.

While Sooriyarachchi made his allegation on state television relating to the court order and the state television stations also announced it over their news bulletins, Wedisinghe when confronted by Attorney G. G. Arulpragasam on the basis of arrest of his client Karunanayake he had alleged he was in possession of a court order.

The statement of Wedisinghe was captured on camera and telecast over MTV/Sirasa TV.

Meanwhile, UNP MP, Rajitha Senaratne also lodged a complaint with Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara on Thursday claiming the MP's privileges were violated with another complaint made on Wedisinghe's conduct on the same day to the Independent Police Commission. It is learnt that a fundamental rights application against the police officers is also to be filed by Karunanayake this week with a separate private plaint in the magistrate's court against Wedisinghe for criminal trespass and other related offences relating to a false claim the he was in possession of a court order to arrest Karunanayake.

  Headlines