Eva's appearance rejected for petition inquiry of suspension of duties of Mahinda

Eva's appearance rejected for petition inquiry of suspension of duties of Mahinda

A request was made yesterday asking for a five-bench of judges to investigate the appeal filed with Supreme Court against the interim order given by Supreme Court preventing operations of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the cabinet. This request was made by Mr. Ranil Wickremasigha inclusive of several other parties.

An appeal filed by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and 49 others against the appeal petition is to be inquired

into in Supreme Court tomorrow. This appeal petition is to be heard before a bench of three judges, Messrs. Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna Jayawardena and L.T.B. Dehideniya. However, what Mr. Ranil ickremasingha and other parties request is to appoint a five-bench of judges to inquire into this appeal. It is mentioned in the motion they forwarded that the said request is made with the motive of being favoured with a justified and a rational order.

This motion has been filed in Supreme Court by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and in the said petition, from among the 122 members of parliament named as respondents, on behalf of member of parliament Mr. Ranil Wickremasingha, his attorney-at-law has filed this motion in Supreme Court. In the meantime, on behalf of the 122 members of parliament named as respondents of this appeal petition, what has been requested by Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajaaksa from Supreme Court by forwarding a motion is to refrain from hearing the appeal case in the presence of Supreme Court judge Mrs. Eva Wanasundera.

The motion further says that if this appeal case is inquired into in the presence of Mrs. Eva Wanasundera, a justified and rational hearing of the case cannot be hoped for and therefore to eliminate her from that bench of judges and to take up the case in the presence of another bench of judges. Eva Wanasundera is a contemporary colleague who attended parallel lectures during the same period that Mahinda Rajapaksa was studying at Law College. This special appeal forwarded by Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa inclusive of his cabinet members is expected to be taken in for hearing today (14).