Colombo, Feb 03 (Daily Mirror) – A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal seeking a declaration that Minister Ananda Wijepala is disqualified from serving as a Member of Parliament and is therefore not entitled to hold office as an MP.

Renuka Dushyantha Perera, the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), filed the petition challenging Minister Wijepala’s eligibility to continue as a Member of Parliament.

The petitioner alleges that while serving as an MP, Minister Wijepala was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the President, effectively making him a public officer.

It is argued that this appointment disqualifies Minister Wijepala from sitting and voting in Parliament, as holding public office constitutes entering into a contract of employment with the State, thereby violating constitutional provisions governing MPs’ eligibility.