A petition has been submitted to the Court of Appeal seeking an order to invalidate the parliamentary seat of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala.
The petition was filed by Renuka Perera, the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Minister Ananda Wijepala, the Secretary General of Parliament, and the Attorney General have been named as respondents.
The petitioner said that Ananda Wijepala was appointed Minister of Public Security by the President on 18 November 2024. However, on 10 December 2024, The Sunday Times reported that Wijepala had also been appointed as the President’s Chief of Staff. A request made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act confirmed this appointment, the petition stated.
Citing Article 91 of the Constitution, the petitioner argued that a public servant cannot sit or vote in Parliament. The head of the President’s staff is considered a public position, making Wijepala ineligible to hold a parliamentary seat while serving in this role.
The petition requested the court to rule that Ananda Wijepala is disqualified from holding office as an MP and to invalidate his parliamentary position. Additionally, it seeks an interim order preventing him from sitting and voting in Parliament until a final decision is made. The petition further requested an order barring him from functioning as Minister of Public Security.
