SLTDA Chairperson withdraws application to travel overseas amidst objections  

On 14^th February 2022, the SLTDA Chairperson Ms Kimarli Fernando withdrew an application preferred by her through her lawyers seeking permission from Court to move the Contempt of Court Inquiry date for her to travel overseas.

This came up in the backdrop where the District Court of Colombo pursuant to an inter-parte Inquiry, overruled the objections and affirmed an Order to issue summons on the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), its Chairperson Ms Kimarli Fernando, its Director General Ms Dhammika Wijesinghe and its Additional Director General Ms Anoma Nandani for allegedly violating an Interim Injunction issued by the District Court.

Pursuant to Contempt of Court summons being re issued, SLTDA Chairperson moved the Court by way of a motion to refix the inquiry date, in order for her to travel overseas. This was objected to by the Plaintiff and filed a Motion seeking for a Warrant of Arrest on the basis that the SLTDA Chairperson has failed to appear before Court in several occasions despite the Contempt Summons being issued on her. The Plaintiff complained that the SLTDA Chairperson is attempting to evade Court. 

When this matter was taken up on 10^th February, the SLTDA Chairperson was not present in Court and the Plaintiff objected to making any application by lawyers without the presence of the accused. When the matter was taken up again on Monday (14^th), the SLTDA Chairperson was not present in Court and President Counsel Mr. Romesh de Silva appearing on the instructions of Mr. Sanath Wijewardena informed the Court that they are moving the Court to withdraw the application to travel overseas rawn.

The Plaintiff, LRL was represented in Court by Counsel Mr. Nishan Premathiratne with Mr. Pravi Karunaratne and Vikum Jayasinghe, on the instructions of Mr. Julian Pratheep, Attorneys-at-Law.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), its Chairperson Ms Kimarli Fernando, its Director General Ms Dhammika Wijesinghe and its Additional Director General Ms Anoma Nandani are required to be present in Court on 16^th March 2022 to answer the Contempt of Court charges.