IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA In the matter of an application for mandates in the nature of Writ of Certiorari and Mandamus under Article 140 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

1. Jayanthi Somasekaran President Mercantile Netball Association No. 58A, Asiri Mawatha, Kalubowila, Dehiwala.

2. Sanjeewani Wanasinghe Secretary Mercantile Netball Association No. 58A, Asiri Mawatha, Kalubowila Dehiwala.

Petitioners CA/Writ/00440-19 Vs

1. Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe M.P.

Minister of Youth and Sports No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

2. Mr Harsha de silva Secretary Ministry of Telecommunication Foreign Employment and Sports No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

3. M. Yamuna Perera President – Interim Committee Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 7.

4. Ranjith Wimalasuriya Secretary – Interim Committee Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

5. E. D. A. Lakmali Edirisinghe Treasure – Interim Committee Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

6. Shermal Fernando Director General – Department of Sports Development No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

7. I. M. Abeyratne President – Election Committee Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 7.

8. Sunil Jayaweera Member – Election Committee Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha Colombo 7.

9. Chandrani Pathiraja Member – Election Committee Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 7.

10. Victoria Lukshmi President – Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

11. T.M.P Kumarihamy Vice President – Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

12. Champa Gunawardena General Secretary – Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 7.

13. Sumitra Wanasinghe Assistant Secretary – Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07.

14. Padmini Horanage Treasurer – Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 7.

15. Hiranthi Senanayake Assistant Treasurer – Netball Federation of Sri Lanka No. 9, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Respondents Before : Hon. M Sampath K. B.Wijeratne,J.(CA)

: Hon. M. Ahsan R. Marikar, J.(CA)

Counsel: Chandana Liyanapatabedi, P.C. with Wijaya Gamage instructed by Waruni Wijewikrama for the Petitioner.

Navodi De Zoysa, S.C. for the 1st, 2nd and 6th Respondents.

Farman Cassim, P.C with Vinura Kularatne instructed by Dimuthu Kuruppuarachchi for the

10^th to 15^th Respondent.

Written Submissions : Petitioner; 15.11.2023

10th to 15th Respondents; 13.11.2023

1st 2nd and 6th Respondents; 25.10.2023 Argued on : 29.02.2024 Decided on : 03.05.2024 M. Ahsan R. Marikar, J. (CA)

Introduction

1) The Petitioner had made an application by the petition dated 1^st November

2019 (as per the minutes dated 21st October 2019 counsel for the Petitioner had sought to amend the petition dated 9th October 2019 which had been allowed by Court) against the 1^st to 15^th Respondents.

2) In the said petition, the Petitioner had sought reliefs on the prayer of the petition from “a” to “n”

a) Issue notice of this Application on the Respondents, b) Make an appropriate order and/or orders, declaring that the election that held on the 28/08/2019, to elect the office bearers or the executive committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka is null and void, c) Make an appropriate order and/or orders, declaring that the purported electoral list consisting the affiliated associations / societies of Netball Federation of Sri Lanka contained, names of those associations which are not eligible to vote at an election to elect office bearers or the executive committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka, d) Make an appropriate order and/or orders, declaring that the calling for th