Court issues order suspending Matara Mayor's removal

A Sri Lankan court yesterday (19) issued an interim order suspending the removal of Matara Mayor Upul Nishantha by the Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal De Silva and appointing anyone else to the said post.



Provincial High Court Judge Devika Abeyratne made this order following a writ application filed by the Mayor Upul Nishantha against the Southern Province Council Chief Minister.
SPC councilor Saman Dharshana Pandikorala, Commissioner of Local Government, Deegoda Gamage Yasaratne, Deputy Mayor of the Matara Municipal Council were cited as respondents.
The order was delivered hours after Deputy Mayor Yasaratne took oaths as the new Mayor of Matara.
The application was supported by counsel Saliya Peiris instructed by Paul Ratnayake Associates.
The counsel informed court that the Matara Mayor who was appointed to the post at the 2006 Local Council election had been politically victimized as he had supported Common Presidential candidate former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka at the last Presidential election.