The petition filed in the Supreme Court by UNP Parliamentarian S. B. Dissanayake, challenging his dismissal from Parliament was taken up yesterday. Arguments were postponed for February 6, 2006.

Dissanayake had requested Court to restrain the Secretary General of Parliament from taking any further steps to unseat him, on the grounds that he kept away from Parliament, without applying for leave. Dissanayake had been found guilty of contempt of the Supreme Court and was serving a prison term.

Faiz Mustapha PC, appeared with Kolitha Dharmawardene, J. C. Weliamuna and Chandana Perera for Dissanayake.

L. C. Seneviratne PC, appeared for the first respondent, the Secretary General of Parliament. The Bench comprised, Justice N. E. Dissanayake and Justice Raja Fernando.

Dissanayake told Court that, he had requested the prison authorities and the Secretary General of Parliament to grant him the opportunity to attend Parliament while in prison, but there was no response to his request.

The Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs Priyani Wijesekera, in her statement of objections had said that Dissanayake absented himself for over three months. Dissanayake had been convicted and served a prison term of over six months. Hence he is not entitled to sit in Parliament, she said.