Geoffrey Alagaratnam vs Rishard Bathiudeen MP – CA APPLICATION NO.205/2012-2013

In the case between Geoffrey Alagaratnam (President’s Counsel) and others (petitioners) and Rishard Bathiudeen MP (respondent), the court examined whether third-party intervention, involving various legal and civil society groups, should be permitted in contempt proceedings instituted under Article 105(3) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The court determined that the criminal nature of contempt proceedings requires these actions to remain strictly adversarial between the court and the alleged contemnor, disallowing participation by external parties regardless of public or professional interest. This position reinforces the principle that criminal contempt is a matter for the direct adjudication by the court, without third-party standing. The decision was reached by reference to the struct