SC restricts President from nominating judges to SC, other than Chief Justice

Colombo, April 30 (Daily Mirror)- The Supreme Court today issued an interim order preventing the President from nominating judges to the Supreme Court, other than the Chief Justice. This order will be effective till October 4. 

The Supreme Court made this order consequent to a Fundamental Rights petition filed by a lawyer.  The petitioner Sarith Maheeputhra Pathirathne, an Attorney-at-Law by profession, filed this petition seeking an order directing the Constitutional Council to approve the recommendation by the President to appoint incumbent President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne as a Supreme Court judge.
 
The petitioner filed this petition naming the members of the Constitutional Council including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sagara Kariyawasam and several others as respondents. 

The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprised Justices S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Shiran Goonaratne.

Faizer Mustapha PC, with Counsel Saheeda Barrie, Mehran Careem, Naveen Maha Arachchige and Amila Perera instructed by Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi appeared for the petitioner.