Diana Gamage, a Member of Parliament of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an annulment of her party’s decision to expel her from the party membership thereby losing her parliamentary seat.
The petitioner has named 11 respondents including SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Chairman Sajith Premadasa, Parliamentary Secretary Dhammika Dassanayake and Election Commission Chairman Nihal G. Punchihewa and its members, and Elections Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake.
The petitioner alleges that the respondents had sought to cancel her party membership by alleging that she had voted in favor of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution when it was passed.
The petitioner alleges that the respondents did not allow a fair disciplinary inquiry before expelling her and alleged that this was a violation of the legal principle of natural justice.
Accordingly, she has requested the Supreme Court to issue an order revoking the SJB’s decision to suspend her party membership.