The Court of Appeal has dismissed a writ application filed by MP Dilith Jayaweera challenging the legality of a referral made by the Colombo Fort Magistrate in connection with an alleged contempt-of-court matter.
A three-judge bench unanimously dismissed the application in limine, meaning that the writ application was rejected at the preliminary stage without proceeding to a full substantive hearing.
The bench comprised Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justices Chamath Morais and Adithya Patabendige.
Jayaweera had sought to challenge the legal validity of the Magistrate's referral.
An important distinction remains: dismissal of Jayaweera's writ application does not itself amount to a finding by the Court of Appeal that he committed contempt of court.
The Court of Appeal has clarified that the Magistrate's referral is not a final determination of contempt.
The appellate court must independently consider the material and determine whether there is a prima facie basis for further contempt proceedings before the process advances.
Accordingly, the current development is the dismissal of Jayaweera's challenge to the referral.
It should not be reported as a conviction or final finding of contempt against him.