The Supreme Court has ordered to file contempt of court charges against the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration for failing to obey the court’s interim order to suspend the implementation of the electronic visa system.

The order was delivered today (13) by a three-member judge bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Achala Wengappuli.

The court also ordered the petitioning party to draft the charges and present it before the court on September 25.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court had directed the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to appear before the court in person today (13) with regard to his failure to implement the order issued by the court over the electronic visa matter.

The directive was issued by the Supreme Court after considering motions filed over the non-implementation of the interim order issued by the court regarding the issue.

On August 02, the Supreme Court issued an interim order suspending the contract given to private consortium IVS-GBS and VFS Global to operate the visa issuance.

The court had issued this order after considering several Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed by a group including opposition MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Rauff Hakeem and Patali Champika Ranawaka. 

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has endorsed the certificate on the Bills titled Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Bill and Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill today (Sep. 13) in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution. 

The said Bills were passed after the second reading debate held in Parliament on 03rd September.

The Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Bill is to make provision for the Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement in Sri Lanka of Judgments of Courts of other countries, to repeal the Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Ordinance (Chapter 93) and the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Ordinance (Chapter 94) and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Accordingly, this Bill shall be known as the Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Act No. 49 of 2024.

In addition, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill is to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979. Accordingly, this Bill shall be known as the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act No. 50 of 2024.

President’s Counsel Kaushalya Nawaratne has resigned from his position as the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) with immediate effect.

The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) on August 31 had unanimously decided to call for the resignation of BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne.

Accordingly, it was reported that the Bar Council in a meeting unanimously approved a proposal calling for the resignation of Kaushalya Nawaratne as the president of the BASL.

On May 18, the BASL Bar Council had appointed a five-member Committee of Inquiry to look into allegations pertaining to the BASL project funded by the JICA relating to the promotion of a transparent and competitive business climate (Anti-Corruption) in Sri Lanka.

President’s Counsel Kaushalya Nawaratne had secured another term as the President of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in January this year. He was re-elected uncontested for the period 2024-2025.