Attorney-at-law Jayathunga Patabandige Susil Priyantha Jayathunga vs. Honourable Judge Ruchira Weliwaththa – CA COC/0002/23-2023

In the case between Susil Priyantha Jayathunga and Honourable Judge Ruchira Weliwaththa, the court addressed the issue of the appropriate procedural law governing applications for Contempt of Court and the adequacy of charges alleging contempt arising from non-appearance and disruption. The court held that the relevant procedure for contempt before the Court of Appeal is derived from the Code of Criminal Procedure, not the Civil Procedure Code, and determined that the alleged conduct did not constitute a prima facie case of contempt. This decision reaffirmed the principle that the administration of contempt jurisdiction in superior courts follows criminal procedural safeguards, in accordance with constitutional mandates and judicial precedent. The outcome emphasized that allegations must s