The Colombo District Court granted leave for a request made by the respondents of the petition filed by State Minister Diana Gamage challenging the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party membership of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

Accordingly, the leader and general secretary of the SJB , who were listed as respondents in the petition, have been given time to file their objections.

The SJB leader and the general secretary were supposed to bring up their objections when the petition was called today, however, their lawyers requested the court to fix a date for them to present their objections.

Taking the request into consideration, the district court ordered the respondents to file their objections on May 22.

In her petition, Diana Gamage has sought an interim order preventing Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara, ruling that the two politicians are not suitable to hold their respective positions in the party.

Pursuant to the SJB’s constitution, a member of another political party cannot hold the membership of the SJB, she said.

She further noted that there are pending court cases filed by Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara with regard to their membership of another political party.

Hence, Gamage has sought an interim order ruling that it is unlawful for the duo to hold their respective positions in the SJB.