Three attorneys-at-law have filed a Contempt of Court case in the Supreme Court against Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka seeking an order to punish him for making a malicious and contemptuous statement on the conduct of the Supreme Court.

The petitioners -- Roshan Devinda Ranaweera, Ranjith Ranasinghe and Nimal Weerakkody said a private TV channel on July 26 this year telecast a news bulletin at 8.00 p.m. referring to the conduct of the Supreme Court in a speech made by the minister at the “Ape Gama” premises in Battaramulla when launching his election campaign.

The petitioners cited Minister Ranawaka, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General as respondents.

They said they had obtained a Compact Disc said to contain the utterances made by the minister. They said the utterances made by Mr. Ranawaka were malicious and contemptuous of the Supreme Court and therefore it was obligatory on the part of the petitioners to bring this matter to the notice of the SC. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)