Court Finds Former Co-operative Insurance Chairman Guilty of Contempt ⚖️

The Commercial High Court of Colombo has found the former Chairman of Co-operative Insurance Company PLC, Susil Shantha Weerasekera, guilty of Contempt of Court. The ruling follows an inquiry into the submission of a falsified affidavit in a case alleging corporate mismanagement. • Legal Breach: Weerasekera initiated legal action in 2022 claiming to be a shareholder of the company. However, evidence including annual reports—previously signed by Weerasekera himself—confirmed he did not hold shares, a mandatory requirement under the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007. • Judicial Findings: High Court Judge Chamath Madanayake ruled that the former Chairman committed an offense under Section 183B of the Civil Procedure Code by filing an affidavit containing falsehoods to obtain ex-parte interim relief. • Corporate Governance: While found guilty of providing false information, the court did not find the accused guilty of violating specific interim orders. The original case filed by the former Chairman was dismissed in May 2023 due to the jurisdictional failure. • Next Steps: Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026. This case highlights critical oversight regarding director accountability and legal compliance within Sri Lanka’s insurance and financial services sectors.