The Court of Appeal has ordered the dismissal of a writ petition filed by former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake seeking a writ of restraining order against the abolition of his parliamentary seat. He is currently serving a four-year sentence for contempt of court. The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justices Arjuna Obeysekera and Mayadunne Koraya. Announcing the verdict, Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal Arjuna Obeysekera stated that there is no legal basis for this petition. Ranjan Ramanayake had stated in his petition that he had received information that he was preparing to cancel his imprisonment as a Member of Parliament who had been sentenced for contempt of court. Earlier in the day, President's Counsel Faiz Mustafa had said that he had been imprisoned on a charge of contempt of court and that there was no legal basis for revoking his seat under the Constitution as it was not a criminal offense. He had stated the facts before the court. However, Additional Solicitor General Indika Devamuni de Silva, appearing for the Attorney General, objected when considering the petition, pointing out that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to grant the relief sought by petitioner Ranjan Ramanayake. The Additional Solicitor General, who appeared for the Attorney General, had requested the court to dismiss the petition without hearing it. Accordingly, the court gave its verdict.