The New People’s Front today (21) filed a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), demanding immediate legal action regarding the alleged contempt of court committed by National People’s Power (NPP) MP Lakmali Hemachandra. The complaint concerns remarks she made during the recent Thimbirigasyaya Regional Development Committee meeting, where she reportedly criticized a court ruling and advised that the decision be disregarded.
The complaint was submitted to the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission by Kolonnawa Electoral Organizer Ajith Pushpakumara, Kolonnawa Electoral Worker Jayasinghe, and Seethawaka Regional Council Member Nalaka Bandara. They urged the Commission to take immediate steps to uphold the rule of law against the MP, who is also an attorney-at-law.
Speaking to the media, Seethawaka Provincial Council Member Nalaka Bandara said:
“During the last Thimbirigasyaya Regional Development Committee meeting, MP and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra publicly criticized a court ruling obtained by a state institution and instructed officials to ignore it. The government is now attempting to justify her statement by claiming it was merely an administrative discussion.”
He further noted that Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara had defended the MP, saying she had not insulted the judiciary and that the matter was discussed administratively. “However,” Bandara added, “we must remind him that the former Controller of Immigration and Emigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya, was punished for not implementing a court decision, claiming it was an administrative matter. When MP Lakmali publicly tells officials to disregard a court ruling, it shows that the law under this ‘Malima government’ applies only to opposition members, not their own.”
Bandara stressed that such remarks amount to a direct challenge to the judiciary. “As both a lawyer and a Member of Parliament, openly criticizing a judicial ruling is a serious affront to the court’s dignity. We therefore request the Judicial Service Commission to take immediate disciplinary and legal action against Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary.”
He also recalled earlier comments made by NPP member Lal Kantha before the party came to power: “He said justice would be delivered at the village level, implying that people could resolve cases sitting on culverts one by one. We would like to see how that system works in practice,” Bandara added sarcastically.
