Suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva and his Executive Committee suffered another heavy blow, when the head of the Court of Appeal, Justice Bandula Karunaratne withdrew from the case that ruled in favour of Silva by issuing a stay order against Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s Interim Committee for SLC.
Following Justice Karunaratne’s withdrawal the Writ Petition of Shammi Silva, was transferred to the Court of Appeal’s two-bench judge comprising Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola.
But following Justice Karunaratne’s withdrawal, Justice Dhammika Ganepola also withdrew from the case.
Justice Karunaratne’s withdrawal coincided with Minister Ranasinghe filing a Petition in the Court of Appeal against the Stay Order on the Interim Committee on Tuesday morning.
Legal watches say the withdrawal of both Justice Karunaratne and Justice Ganepola marks a victory for Sports Minister Ranasinghe, who has declared that he will do everything possible within his means to get rid of the corruption scandalized SLC, while at the same time challenging President Ranil Wickremasinghe to remove him as he openly declared in Parliament.
Minister Ranasinghe who has declared he will go to the World Court to fight his corruption case has also gone on record saying his fight against Sri Lanka Cricket knows no borders and would spend even out of his own pocket on legal fees if he is removed from the government.
Last week Minister Ranasinghe also declared there were death threats issued against him and demanded extra police security while also saying there were attempts to poison him and would not consume a glass of water if he had suspicions at official functions.
He has also lambasted President Wickremasinghe’s advisor Sagala Ratnayake for siding with Shammi Silva.
