Court dismisses Fonseka’s writ petition

The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed the writ petition filed by former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to get his Parliamentary seat back.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Fonseka’s writ petition seeking an order directing the Secretary General of Parliament to appoint him as a Member of Parliament after removing MP Jayantha Ketagoda.

Fonseka requested the Court to pronounce the appointment of Jayantha Ketagoda as a Parliamentarian is null and void.

The two-Judge bench comprising President of the Court of Appeal Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice H.C.J. Madawala dismissed the petition, observing that there was no legal provision to make such an order.

Ketagoda, a well-known tele-drama actor, was appointed by the then National Democratic Alliance (DNA) to fill the party’s Colombo District Parliamentary seat that was left vacant by Party Leader Fonseka when he was jailed following a Court martial verdict.

Ketagoda was elected to Parliament in 2001 under the United National Party (UNP) banner for the Kaduwela electorate. He joined the DNA during the 2010 presidential elections to support the common Opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka.

However, Ketagoda is now supporting the Opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). (Colombopage)