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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fazaal24" data-source="post: 182115" data-attributes="member: 9342">Judge of the Court of Appeal Justice S. Sriskandarajah Tuesday issued a warrant for the arrest of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga for being absent from the Contempt of Court proceedings initiated by former Telecom Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala, without the prior approval of the court. Counsel Naveen Marapana for Thilanga Sumathipala moved court to issue warrant on the first respondent Lasantha Wickrematunga.  He submitted that the court had warned the first respondent earlier on October 26, not to be absent from the proceedings without its prior sanction.  The counsel submitted that Wickrematunga could not be differently treated because he was the editor of the Sunday Leader. He submitted that the newspaper editors were no exception and were not above the law.  He requested the court to follow the normal procedure in this instance. Counsel Palitha Kumarasinghe for Wickrematunga pleaded not to issue warrant on his client since it was never the intention of his client to keep away from court. He submitted that client had gone abroad and scheduled to return before today. Counsel submitted that reasons beyond first respondent's control kept him out of the country. He also submitted that his client had been regularly present at the court proceedings.  Petitioner Sumathipala cited Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, its journalist Frederica Jansz and publisher Lal Wickrematunga as respondents. The court issued the rule on the three respondents to show cause as to why they should not be punished for publishing articles in the Sunday Leader that amounted to the contempt of the Colombo Magistrate Court and the Court of Appeal.  The petitioner stated that the respondents had published 12 articles in the Sunday Leader Newspaper causing prejudice in the minds of the Judges, lawyers, the Police and public in respect of a pending case before the Colombo Magistrate Court and the bail application in the Court of Appeal. He alleged that the article violated the journalistic ethics, the judicial process and the adminstration of justice. Gamini Marapana PC with Naveen Marapana appeared for the petitioner.  Romesh de Silva PC with Palitha Kumarasinghe instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for the respondents. The warrant would be returnable on February 9.</blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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