Fonseka goes to court to get his parliamentary seat back
Thursday, 26 February 2015 01:14
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Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka yesterday filed a petition in the Court of Appeal requesting the court to pronounce that the appointment of Jayantha Ketagoda as a parliamentarian is null and void.
Through a writ application, Fonseka requested the court to call upon Ketagoda to show cause by what authority he claims to function as a Member of the Parliament and to declare that such a claim is null and void.
Ketagoda, a well-known teledrama actor, was appointed by the then National Democratic Alliance (DNA) to fill the party’s Colombo district parliamentary seat which was left vacant by party leader Fonseka.
Fonseka’s parliamentary seat fell vacant due to his imprisonment following a court martial verdict.
The vacant seat was first assigned to JVP member Lakshman Nipunarachchi, who refused to accept the position.
Ketagoda was elected to the 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).
Former Parliamentary Secretary, the former Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and the Attorney General have been named as respondents in the case.
