Nagananda Kotituwakku vs Ranjith Withanage – CA CONTEMPT/6/2023-2023

In the case between Nagananda Kotituwakku (on behalf of the General Secretary of the Vinivida Foundation) and Ranjith Withanage (President of the National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection), the court addressed whether statements allegedly made by the Respondent amounted to contempt of the Court of Appeal under Article 105(3) of the Constitution. The court determined that, as the underlying writ application had previously been withdrawn and no court order or settlement had been breached, the basis for contempt proceedings was not established. Referencing relevant case law on contempt, with particular emphasis on the necessity for a clear violation of a court order to constitute contempt, it was established that the matter represented a private dispute rather than judicial misconduct.