Mrs. Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe vs. Hon. Lakshman Namal Rajapaksha – SC CONTEMPT NO.04/2016-2016

In the case between Mrs. Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, P.C., Director General (Complainant) and Hon. Lakshman Namal Rajapaksha, M.P. (“Carlton”, Tangalle) (Respondent), the court addressed whether contempt proceedings could be initiated under Article 105(3) of the Constitution and Section 20 of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act No. 19 of 1994 solely on the basis of a certificate issued by the Commission, without the filing of a separate petition and affidavit. It was held that such a certificate provides a sufficient legal foundation for cognizance of contempt matters, subject to the observance of due process and fairness. The judgment reaffirmed the principle that statutory powers governing contempt must be balanced with procedural safeguards to uphol