A petition was filed with the Court of Appeal yesterday by Southern Provincial Council Member H. A. Piyasena challenging the termination of his membership from the UPFA.

The petitioner named the former UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha, Southern Provincial Council Secretary K. L. Dayaratne and Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya as respondents.

Piyasena said that he contested the August 17 General Election as an independent candidate. His party membership was terminated on this ground, the petitioner said further.

The petitioner also said that it was illegal to remove him from the party without filing a charge sheet or conducting a disciplinary inquiry.