A contempt of court case filed against Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and the Secretary to the Ministry was withdrawn today by the petitioners.

On November 26, 2015, five SAITM students filed a contempt of court case against Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Health Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrama with the Supreme Court.

The students urged the court to deal with the contempt of court under Statute 105 (3) of the Constitution and punish the respondents.

The students, through their petition, said that the Health Ministry gave an undertaking in 2014 to facilitate necessary clinical practices for them in a government hospital. This undertaking was given when a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the five students was considered by the Supreme Court. However, nothing has been done to carry out this undertaking, the students claimed.

When the case was taken up today, the petitioners informed the Supreme Court that the government has taken steps to give clinical practices at Avissawella Base Hospital and Kaduwela MOH. Therefore, the petitioners requested permission to withdraw the case.

Considering this application, the Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice Chandra Ekanayake, Justice Sisira de Abrew and Justice Eva Wanasundera allowed for the withdrawal of the petition.

Meanwhile, the GMOA today requested permission to act as an intervening party in the case. However, this request was nullified since the case was withdrawn.