Legal Ruling on Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara

News Today: Supreme Court Upholds Expulsion of Ministers

The Supreme Court has determined that the expulsion of Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party is legally valid. This ruling results in both ministers losing their parliamentary seats and ministerial portfolios, a significant development in Sri Lanka’s political landscape.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Achala Wengappuli, and Arjuna Obeyesekere held that the SJB’s decision to expel Fernando and Nanayakkara adheres to the law. Both ministers had previously filed petitions challenging their removal from the party, but the court upheld the expulsion, effectively ending their political careers within the SJB.

This landmark judgment underscores the authority of political parties to enforce disciplinary actions against their members. The legal battle saw prominent legal figures, including Faiszer Musthpha PC for Manusha Nanayakkara, Romesh de Silva PC for Harin Fernando, and M.A. Sumanthiran PC with other distinguished counsel for the SJB leadership, representing the parties involved.