Attorney-General vs. Nagananda Kodituwakku – SC CONTEMPT 01/2021-2025

In the case of The Hon. Attorney General v. Nagananda Kodituwakku, the court addressed whether the inherent power to punish for contempt under Article 105(3) of the Constitution is affected by the absence of a statutory definition of contempt or by the enactment of the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act, No. 8 of 2024. It was held that the constitutional authority to proceed with contempt remains unimpaired by either the lack of statutory definition or the enactment of new legislation, reaffirming that the superior courts’ jurisdiction to address contempt remains rooted in constitutional and common law principles. Reference was made to historical case law and precedent, emphasizing that statutory developments do not derogate the court’s foundational powers. The court overrule