Court of Appeal Judge Deepali Wijesundara has stepped down from the bench hearing the petition challenging the parliamentary seat of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Wijesundra today said she was withdrawing from the case due to "personal reasons." 

The development took place a week after the Constitutional Council has shot down President Maithripala Sirisena's repeated attempt to appoint Deepali Wijesundara as the Chairperson of the Court of Appeal. 

Wickremesinghe, by virtue of his office as the Prime Minister, is also a member of the Constitutional Council. 

The Constitutional Council, two weeks ago, rejected President Sirisena's recommendation to appoint Wijesundara as the Chairperson of the Court of Appeal. 

Despite the initial refusal by the Council, the President again nominated Wijesundara for the position and re-sent it for the approval of the Council. 

The Council has reportedly decided that it was pointless to discuss a nomination that has already been rejected.