Oct 08, Colombo: Sri Lanka Supreme Court yesterday (07) issued an injunction suspending a gazette notice dated August 08, 2008, issued empowering the President to extend the service of state officials appointed by the President beyond the compulsory retirement age.

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal by the Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando not to issue an injunction since an amendment to the relevant regulation was being considered. He said that two weeks time had been given to rectify the issue.

Stating that the President had amended a 50 year long regulation, the Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva pointed out that the authority to bring regulations was the legislature.

The Supreme Court also issued an order that any action taken by an officer whose service had been extended by the President under this regulation was also valid until the date the injunction was issued.

A tri member Supreme Court panel of judges comprising the Chief Justice, Sarath Nanda Silva, judges Mrs., Shirani Thilakawardhana and K.Sripavan issued the injunction when a fundamental rights petition filed by the Center for Policy Alternatives was taken up for consideration.