The crucial appeal filed by former Member of Parliament Thavarasa Kalaiyarasan concerning the legal and administrative issues surrounding the upgrade of the Kalmunai Sub-Divisional Secretariat to a full Divisional Secretariat was taken up for hearing before the Court of Appeal yesterday (08).
The Court decided to hear the main petition together with two directly related intervening petitions before a single bench.
Sumanthiran’s Hour-Long Legal Arguments
President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, appearing on behalf of petitioner and former MP Thavarasa Kalaiyarasan, commenced arguments at the start of the hearing.
Addressing the court, he presented detailed legal and administrative submissions explaining the legal framework governing the conversion of the Kalmunai Sub-Divisional Secretariat into a fully-fledged Divisional Secretariat. He also outlined the relevant state administrative structure, making legal and political arguments before the bench for more than an hour.
Intervening Parties Represented by Senior Counsel
A team of senior lawyers appeared on behalf of the intervening petitioners representing prominent Muslim political figures who have filed interlocutory petitions seeking intervention in the matter.
President’s Counsel Faizer Mustafa, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, and a panel of lawyers presented submissions on behalf of the intervening petitioners, including former State Minister H.M.M. Haris and former Kalmunai Municipal Council member A. Khalil Rahman.
Related Cases Also Heard
The Court of Appeal also took up related petitions filed by social activists Mubariz M. Hanifa and A.M. Nasir concerning the same matter.
After considering the submissions made, the Court of Appeal adjourned the case until September 7, 2026, for the intervening petitioners to present their legal arguments and for the continued hearing of the related petitions. The President’s Counsels appearing for the opposing parties are scheduled to present their submissions on that date.
