Justice Priyantha Jayawardena Withdraws From Contempt Of Court Case Against Sarath N Silva Citing "Personal Reasons"

February 07, 2019

The Contempt of Court case against former Chief justice Sarath N Silva was postponed till May 08 as Justice Priyantha Jayawardena withdrew himself from the case. 

Jayawardena told the court today that he was stepping down from the case due to "personal reasons". 

The case was taken up this morning before Justices Jayawardena, Murdu Fernando and E.A.G.A. Amarasekara.

The Supreme Court last month noticed the former Chief Justice to appear before the Supreme Court today over contempt of court charges. 

Three professors, Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Cyril Hewawaduge and Prishantha Gunawardena filed the case.

The petitioners claimed that the remarks made by former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva during a protest rally in Maradana, last month, were in contempt of court.

Silva is the first retired Chief Justice in the country to face contempt of court charges in the Supreme Court.