Justice Prasanna Jayawardena today recused himself from the bench hearing the contempt of court case against former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva. 

Making a statement in the court today, Jayawardena said he too was a member of the bench which delivered the judgement criticized by the former Chief Justice. 

He said it was on the same grounds that he decided to step down from the bench hearing the case against Silva. 

The case was taken up today before a three-member bench including Justices Jayawardena, Murdu Fernando and Gamini Amarasekera. 

Three professors, Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Cyril Hewawaduge and Prishantha Gunawardena filed the case.

The petitioners claimed that the remarks made by former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva during a protest rally in Maradana, in December, were in contempt of court.

Silva will be the first retired Chief Justice in the country to face contempt of court charges.