The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed the petition filed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Patali Champika Ranawaka seeking an order suspending the Colombo High Court from the hearing of the case of the alleged motor accident that took place in 2016 at Rajagiriya. The petition was dismissed, refusing to issue notice to the respondents in the petition.
A panel of Appeal Court Judges comprising Justices Menaka Wijesundara and S. Kumaran Ratnam made this order after considering the preliminary facts. Former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, his driver Thusitha Dilum Kumara and ASP Sudath Asmadala are the accused in the High Court case. Petitioner Champika Ranawaka states that the Attorney General has filed a case against him in the Colombo High Court alleging that he concealed evidence and fabricated evidence in an accident that allegedly took place in the Rajagiriya area in 2016.
The petitioner said that despite the preliminary objections raised by his counsels that the case could not be continued, the High Court Judge had ordered that it be fixed for trial. He pointed out that the decision of the High Court Judge was contrary to the law and therefore the petitioner requested the Court of Appeal to issue an Interim Order suspending the High Court hearing. He also requested Court to release him from the relevant charges.
President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha and Attorney Keerthi Thilakaratne appeared for the petitioner. Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.