Piyasena allowed to become respondent in Geetha’s case
July 7, 2017 06:00 pm
The Supreme Court today decided to allow former Minister Piyasena Gamage to become a respondent in the case filed with regard to Geetha Kumarasinghe being disqualified from holding a seat in parliament.
The approval was granted by the three-member judge bench chaired by Chief Justice Priyasad Dep, after considering a motion submitted by Piyasena Gamage.
In May, the Court of Appeal ruled that Kumarasinghe is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament as she is a holder of dual-citizenship.
However, the actress-turned-politician filed a special appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile former minister Piyasena Gamage sought the permission of the court last month to become a respondent in the case as he is next in the list to fill the MP seat vacated by Kumarasinghe.
Her attorneys had objected to this request, citing the fact that the former minister did not come forward to testify in the trial heard before the Appeals Court.
However, after considering the facts presented before the court, the judge bench decided to allow Mr Gamage to become a respondent in the case.
He was named as the fourth respondent in the case, which was then postponed till September 25.
