'Be on time' - Court gives Sanath Nishantha a strong warning

by Zulfick Farzan 13-10-2022 | 4:52 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan State Minister Sanath Nishantha was given a strong warning by the country's Court of Appeal on Thursday (13).

On Thursday (13) morning, the Court of Appeal ordered the IGP to immediately arrest State Minister Sanath Nishantha and produce him in court as he failed to appear in court as ordered.

However, moment later the State Minister appeared in court, and the warrant for his arrest was recalled by the Court of Appeal.

Justices of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, and Ratnapriya Gurusinghe strongly warned the State Minister noting that insulting the judiciary, and challenging the powers of the judges is a serious offense, and stressed that the State Minister as a Public Representative and Member of Parliament must bear that in mind at all times.

Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne inquired from the State Minister as to whether he was aware of the consequences faced by those who had previously committed contempt of court, and considering the fact that the State Minister appeared in court moment after the warrant was issued, decided to recall the warrant.

Justice Karunaratne strong warned the State Minister to ensure that he appears in court on time, and postponed the matter to the 10th of November.

He also pointed out to the State Minister that the Judicial Services Commission, of which all of Sri Lanka's Magistrate's and District Judges hold membership, had filed a complaint seeking proper punishment on the State Minister as his comments during a media briefing on the 23rd of August 2022 at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna after very serious.

Earlier in the day, Counsel Shantha Jayawardena requested court for the case to be postponed to another date, as his client, the respondent, was not in court at the time the case was called up.

President's Counsel Faisz Musthapha who appeared for the State Minister moments later informed the court that his client will not be appearing as the summons, and necessary documentation in relation to the case were not served property to the respondent.

President's Counsel Romesh De Silva, President's Counsel Saliya Pieris, President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya objected, and thereafter the warrant was issued, and later recalled after the State Minister appeared in court.