Lawyer pays Rs.500,000 legal costs after dismissal of Presidential election petition

• The Supreme Court decided to dismiss the petition citing that there is no legal basis to proceed with the application
• Supreme Court further observed that the petitioner has deliberately abused the court process and misled the court by filing this kind of frivolous application

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The lawyer who filed a Fundamental Rights petition against the holding of the Presidential election yesterday paid the Rs. 500,000 legal costs before the Supreme Court, as per the order made by the Court after dismissing his petition.   

In his petition, Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri sought a declaration that the Presidential election should not be held without a referendum on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.   

On July 15, the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Arjuna Obeysekera and Justice Priyantha Fernando dismissed the petition, ordering the petitioner to pay a cost of Rs. 500,000. The Supreme Court decided to dismiss the petition citing that there is no legal basis to proceed with the application. The Supreme Court further observed that the petitioner has deliberately abused the court process and misled the court by filing this kind of frivolous application.