SJB, NPP file contempt of court cases against Treasury Secy

• On March 3,  Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing Treasury Secretary and any state official from withholding   funds allocated for conducting 2023 LG Polls

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara yesterday filed a Contempt of Court case against the Treasury Secretary for alleged failure to comply with the Supreme Court order issued regarding the Local Government Elections.   

The SJB General Secretary is seeking an order to charge Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana for the offence of Contempt of Court under Article 105(3) of the Constitution.  

On March 3, the Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing the Treasury Secretary and any other state official from withholding any funds allocated for the purpose of conducting 2023 Local Government Polls. 

This order had been issued pursuant to a Fundamental Rights petition filed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.  

The Petitioner states that, by letter dated 07th March 2023, the Chairman of the Elections Commission on behalf of the Elections Commission, requested the respondent Treasury Secretary to release funds amounting to a sum of Rs.1100 million in order to conduct the Local Authorities Elections on 25th April 2023 as per the Interim Orders issued by the Supreme Court on 03rd March 2023.  

The Petitioner further states that by letter dated 07th March 2023, the Treasury Secretary apprised the Chairman of the Elections Commission that, as per the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, the funds requested by the Chairman of the Elections Commission will be released only upon the approval of the Minister of Finance being received.  

The Petitioner states that the letter of Treasury Secretary blatantly demonstrates the contemptuous attitude and willful disregard of the Respondent. towards the interim Orders made by the Supreme Court. This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-Law Sampath Wijewardena.  

Meanwhile, National People’s Power Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath also filed a Contempt of Court application in the Supreme Court against Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana. The NPP Parliamentarian is further seeking an order directing the Attorney General to draft charges against the Treasury Secretary for committing the offence of Contempt of Court for his failure to obey the Supreme Court order dated 3rd of March, 2023. This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-Law Manjula Balasuriya.