SC Dismisses Plea to Be Recognised as SLMC MPs

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court today rejected a request made by Rauff Hakeem and Nizam Kariapper to notify Parliament that they should be recognised as Members of Parliament representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and not the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

The court dismissed the petition filed by the two parliamentarians without granting leave to proceed.

The petition filed by Rauff Hakeem and Nizam Kariapper was taken up before a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Achala Wengappuli.

Appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena raised preliminary objections and requested the court to dismiss the petition without proceeding with a hearing.

She informed court that the general election was held in November 2024, while the petition had been filed in October 2025.

She argued that the petition had been filed after the lapse of the prescribed time period.

She further pointed out that the two petitioners were elected to Parliament under an alliance formed with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, and that the failure to name the General Secretary of that party as a respondent amounted to a procedural defect.

The Additional Solicitor General also stated that, at the request of the petitioners, the Election Commission had already issued a letter to Parliament informing that they are members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and accordingly requested that the petition be dismissed.

Appearing for the petitioners, President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran informed court that at the last general election, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the party of his clients, contested the election in alliance with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

He stated that the Election Commission had informed Parliament that his clients were members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

He said that it was therefore necessary to file this action seeking an order directing the Election Commission to notify Parliament that his clients are members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

However, President’s Counsel Sumanthiran also requested court to permit the withdrawal of the petition, noting that the Election Commission had already issued a letter stating that the petitioners are members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

During proceedings, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena questioned how the petitioners could represent a separate party in Parliament when voters had cast their votes for an alliance.

In response, President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran said that although voters voted for an alliance, the preferential vote system allows them to select individual candidates of their choice.

After considering the submissions made by both parties, the Supreme Court bench decided to dismiss the petition without issuing notice.