SLFP becomes rudderless

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction led by former President Maithripala Sirisena has become rudderless now with the legal bar on Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from functioning as the acting chairman.  

The Colombo District Court yesterday issued an enjoining order preventing Minister Rajapakshe from functioning as the acting chairman of the SLFP.  
Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana made this order pursuant to a plaint filed by Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Duminda Dissanayake and Mahinda Amaraweera. This order will be effective until May 8.   
The Court further issued an enjoining order preventing Dushmantha Maithripala from functioning as the SLFP Acting Secretary.   
Minister Wijedasa Rajapkshe was appointed as the Acting Chairman of the SLFP during an executive committee meeting held on April 21.  The plaintiffs alleged that the executive committee meeting had been convened illegally, contrary to Section 32 of the SLFP constitution, and therefore its subsequent appointments are not legally valid.  
Earlier in yesterday, the Colombo District Court issued an interim injunction preventing former President Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the chairman of SLFP.  Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana made this order pursuant to a lawsuit filed by SLFP activist Montague Sarathchandra. This order will be effective till the conclusion of the hearing into this matter.