A group of Opposition MPs filed two writ applications yesterday (12) in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an order directing the Election Commission (EC) to immediately hold the Local Government (LG) election.
One writ application had been filed by Opposition MP Prof. G.L. Peiris and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary and Opposition MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, while the other writ application had been filed by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary and Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, and Opposition MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.
The respondents of these writ petitions include EC Chairman Attorney Nimal Punchihewa and Prime Minister and Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Dinesh Gunawardena.
These petitions pointed out that the tenure of 340 LG authorities will expire by 19 March 2023, including 24 Municipal Councils, 41 Urban Councils, and 275 Pradeshiya Sabhas.
The petitions further pointed out that the EC had not taken any steps to hold the LG poll.
Also, it was mentioned in these petitions that it could be observed through media reports that the EC officials are looking to postpone elections.
Speaking to The Morning, Kiriella said yesterday that the EC should have started the process to hold the LG poll after 20 September 2022, but that it is unnecessarily delaying the process.
“We have filed papers to obtain a writ requesting the EC to fix a date for the nominations for the LG Poll,” he added.
However, last week, the EC announced that following an internal meeting, it had decided to call for nominations by the end of December.
