Sri Lanka’s Attorney General’s Department has informed the Court of Appeal that it will not represent the Speaker of Parliament in a petition challenging the suspension of former Deputy Secretary-General Chaminda Kularatne.

The Speaker, Jagath Wickramaratne, has been named as a respondent in the case, but President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran appeared on his behalf when the matter was taken up on Friday.

The petition alleges that the Parliamentary Advisory Committee acted unlawfully in submitting a charge sheet and suspending Kularatne. During an earlier hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Chaya Sri Nammuni told the court that the Speaker was prepared to consider a settlement.

The case was heard before a bench comprising President of the Court of Appeal Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, who explored the possibility of resolving the matter.

Counsel for the petitioner, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, requested a date to verify petition details. The court directed the respondents to file any limited objections by 20 April.

The Speaker, the Secretary-General of Parliament, and the members of the Advisory Committee have been named as respondents in the petition.