Supreme Court clears obstacles to judicial appointments

Colombo, December 12 (Daily Mirror) - A Fundamental Rights petition filed by a lawyer seeking an order directing the Constitutional Council to approve the recommendation made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to appoint the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal, Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, as a Supreme Court judge was dismissed with costs today by the Supreme Court.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli, and Mahinda Samayawardena, ordered the petitioner to pay costs of Rs. 1.5 million to the three members of the Constitutional Council.

With this Supreme Court judgment, there is no impediment for the President and the Constitutional Council to appoint judges to the Supreme Court.