Court to consider petition by expelled CMC member

The Court of Appeal ordered the petition filed by Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) member Sohara Buhari to be called on March 13 for the support of the case. Buhari is seeking to suspend the decision made by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to terminate her party membership and subsequently her council seat. The order was issued today (March 06) by a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

The legal action names SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem, General Secretary Nizam Kariyapper, and the Colombo Returning Officer among the respondents. Through her lawyer, Manjula Balasuriya, Buhari stated that the party moved to expel her after she voted in favor of the CMC budget on December 31, 2025. She defended her decision by noting that the budget contained numerous positive, public-oriented proposals.

Buhari's petition highlights that although the Colombo District Court had previously issued an enjoining order preventing the party from removing her, the SLMC proceeded with disciplinary measures without a fair inquiry. She argues that the decision to strip her of membership is contrary to the law and has requested an interim order allowing her to continue functioning as a CMC member until the final determination of the petition. Following the party's action, the Election Commission had already moved to gazette her removal on February 12, 2026, a move she now seeks to invalidate.