Supreme Court Halts Former President's Residence in Paget Road House in Landmark Ruling

February 29, 2024

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The Supreme Court has nullified the Cabinet's decision to allow former President Maithripala Sirisena to continue residing in the President's House on Paget Road, Colombo, post his tenure.

The decision came through an interim injunction issued by the court following the deliberation of fundamental rights petitions filed by the Center For Policy Alternatives and its Founder Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.


The bench, comprising Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Gamini Amarasekara, and Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, granted the interim restraining order after carefully examining the documents and evidence presented. Notably, the court highlighted that the initial decision, made during a Cabinet meeting on October 15, 2019, where Sirisena himself was present, lacked adherence to the principles of natural justice.


This decision overturns the previous interim order that suspended the Cabinet's decision until the full hearing of the petitions takes place.