Court directs AG to send SIS report on community transmission of COVID-19 to EC

Wednesday, 27 May 2020 02:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CJ directs AG official to send SIS report to EC to facilitate their decision-making process
SIS report says no community transition of COVID-19 between 11 March and 1 May
ASG makes submissions on sixth day of hearing into FR petitions challenging Gazettes dissolving Parliament and on holding election on 20 June

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday told the representative of the Attorney General (AG) to make available to the Election Commission the report from the State Intelligence Service (SIS) which had been submitted to court confirming that there have been no cases of community transmission of COVID-19 between 11 March and 1 May, for the EC to take into consideration when deciding on a date for holding of the Parliamentary Election.

The CJ made this comment after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indika Demuni de Silva told Court that along with the letter sent by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe to the President’s Secretary P.B. Jayasundera saying the preparatory work for the election can now commence, a report from the SIS too was submitted to Court confirming that there were no community transmission of COVID-19 during the said period.

The ASG made the submission when the sixth day of hearings into the Fundamental Rights Petitions filed challenging the Gazette issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolving Parliament, as well as the Gazette issued by the Election Commission that set 20 June as the date for the General Election, which were taken up for hearing yesterday.

The five-member Bench comprises Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, and Vijitha Malalgoda.

The ASG submitted to Court that the President has acted within his powers by dissolving Parliament and the Fundamental Rights of the Petitioners have not been violated by the President’s action and asked the Court to dismiss all the Petitions.

She said that it is the Fundamental Rights of the voters that are being violated by the delay in holding elections.

Among the Petitioners are journalist Victor Ivan, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka and Kumar Welgama.

The Respondents include the Secretary to the President and the members of the Election Commission.

Further hearings will continue tomorrow.