Court Of Appeal Dismisses Writ Petition Against Cabral's Appointment As Central Bank Governor

November 03, 2021

The Court of Appeal today (03) dismissed the writ petition filed by former Governor Rajitha Keerthi Tennakoon against the appointment of former Minister of State for Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal as the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The court granted the Attorney General's objection to dismiss the petition without hearing it as it was filed without any legal basis.

The order was passed by a bench of Justices of the Court of Appeal comprising Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola.

In his preliminary objections, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle stated that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear the petition filed against it by the President as the appointment had been made by the President. The Additional Solicitor General also stated that the petition contained baseless and unsubstantiated claims.

The respondents in this petition are the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, former Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Secretary to the President, Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka T.M.J.Y.P Fernando.