Mar 31, Colombo: The Supreme Court ordered an adjournment till May 22 to consider two petitions filed against Finance Ministry Secretary Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena over contempt of court.

The Supreme Court had issued an interim order to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance on March 3rd, preventing the withholding of the money allocated in the 2023 budget for the local government polls.

The two petitions have been filed alleging that the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance has insulted the court by not following the order.

These petitions were filed by the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Member of Parliament Ranjith Madduma Bandara and the Member of Parliament of the National People’s Power, Mr. Vijitha Herath.

The petitions are being considered by a five-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.

The Attorney General presented the facts before the court and requested for time to file the documents related to this case.

The five-member Supreme Court bench, which allowed the request, adjourned till May 22 to consider the petitions.