The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed with a petition seeking a determination that Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala is disqualified from holding a seat in Parliament.
The decision was made after the court considered an appeal petition filed by former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Administrative Secretary Renuka Perera.
According to the petition, Minister Wijepala is currently serving as both a Member of Parliament and the President’s Chief of Staff, a position which the petitioner argues is incompatible with parliamentary membership under the provisions of the Constitution.
The petitioner has requested the court to declare that Wijepala is not legally entitled to continue serving as a Member of Parliament while simultaneously holding the position of Chief of Staff to the President.
The case raises constitutional questions regarding the eligibility of elected representatives to hold certain public offices while serving in Parliament.
By granting leave to proceed, the Supreme Court has determined that the petition contains matters that warrant further judicial examination. The court has not yet ruled on the merits of the case.
The matter is expected to be taken up for further hearings before the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.
