• Enjoining order will be effective until November 12

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Colombo District Court yesterday issued an Enjoining Order suspending the Sri Lanka Communist Party’s decision to remove North Western Province Governor Raja Collure as the Chairman of the Communist Party.

The District Court further issued an Enjoining Order preventing the Sri Lanka Communist Party from appointing a new Chairman to the Communist Party.

Colombo District Court Judge Aruna Aluthge made this order subsequent to a lawsuit filed by Governor Raja Collure. This enjoining order will be effective until November 12.

In his petition, the plaintiff cited Vice Chairman of Sri Lanka Communist Party Weerasumana Weerasinghe, General Secretary Dr. G. Weerasinghe, Party Organiser S. Wijesinghe, Acting Treasurer Premadara Dissanayake and former General Secretary D.E.W. Gunasekera as the defendants.
The plaintiff stated he had been expelled from party chairmanship at a central committee meeting dated October 24, 2021, without a fair hearing (audi alteram partem) contrary to the principles of natural justice. The plaintiff further alleged he had been removed from the post of Chairman in an illegal manner contrary to the party constitution.  The plaintiff further said he had been removed from the party Chairmanship following his remarks regarding teachers as the Governor of the North Western Province that he would consider cutting their salaries if they failed to report to work upon the reopening of schools on October 21.

Collure stated that the party does not have power to remove him from the position since he made these remarks being the Governor of the Province, the representative of the President as the Chief Executive officer of the Province at the time the Provincial Council has become inactive.

He further alleged that the defendants have failed to conduct a fair disciplinary inquiry against him, and they always acted contrary to natural justice.Counsel Murshid Maharoof with Madushi Perera and Shoaib Ahamed instructed by Mayomi Ranawaka appeared for the Plaintiff.

• The plaintiff stated he had been expelled from party chairmanship at a central committee meeting dated October 24, 2021, without a fair hearing