Diana withdraws expulsion case against SJB

by Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Expulsion Petition filed by former State Minister Diana Gamage challenging the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel her from party membership was yesterday withdrawn by her before the Supreme Court.  

Diana Gamage’s lawyers sought the court’s permission to withdraw the application, citing that their client does not intend to proceed with it.   

Accordingly, the Supreme Court permitted the petitioner to withdraw her expulsion application.  

The Supreme Court in another application held that Diana Gamage is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament and thus she is not entitled to hold office as a Member of Parliament, as she is not a citizen of Sri Lanka.  

In her petition, Diana Gamage sought a declaration that the decision to expel her from the SJB communicated to her via letter dated 08th October 2021, is made in violation of the constitution of the SJB. Gamage stated that the party decision to expel her from party membership was unlawful and contrary to natural justice. Diana Gamage said she had been expelled from the party membership following her decision to vote in favour of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.