State Minister Diana Gamage had filed a petition claiming that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara holding membership and positions of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya is against the constitution of the party.
Accordingly, both Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara were ordered by a Colombo District Court to appear in court on the 25th of January 2023.
State Minister Diana Gamage had filed the petition via President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa with the Colombo District Court and noted that Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara continue to remain as members of the United National Party.
As evidence, Diana Gamage had produced an affidavit from the General Secretary of the United National Party, and a judicial process that Ranjith Madduma Bandara had taken to challenge disciplinary action by the UNP, as evidence material in her petition.
She says that article 3 (3) of chapter 3 of the SJB constitution notes that if a party member holds membership of another party, he or she will lose the membership of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya.
She requests the court to deliver a ruling that both Sajith Premadasa, and Ranjith Madduma Bandara holding membership of the SJB, and holding the posts of Leader and General Secretary of the SJB, are illegal.
Diana Gamage has also requested an order suspending those from holding the said positions under the examination of the petition is complete.
