Nov 30, Colombo: Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate, Pradeep M. Abeyratne today rejected a request to issue an injunction order against the holding of the annual congress of Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP).

The magistrate delivered this judgment when he heard a petition filed by W.G.G. Karunathilaka of Akuressa appealing for an interim injunction against the UNP general assembly which is scheduled to be held on December 01.

The judge yesterday postponed delivering the judgment.

The magistrate fixed January 23 for the defendants including UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and the other 84 members of the party working committee to file objections or submissions.