Ranjan Ramanayaka Vs. Secretary General of Parliament and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 52/2021-2021

In the case between Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjana Leo Sylvester Alphonsu alias Ranjan Ramanayaka (Petitioner, Member of Parliament) and the Secretary General of Parliament and Hon. Attorney General of Sri Lanka (Respondents), the court addressed whether a conviction for contempt of court disqualifies an elected Member of Parliament under Article 89(d) of the Sri Lankan Constitution. The court held that conviction and imprisonment for contempt constitutes a disqualifying “offence” under the relevant constitutional provision, such that the parliamentary seat is vacated by operation of law. The principle was reaffirmed that the Secretary General must determine whether legal requirements for disqualification are satisfied before undertaking the ministerial function