The Supreme Court today deferred the hearing of a petition calling for Local Government polls to be delayed. Accordingly, the petition will be taken up again on 11 March, two days after the date previously announced by the ECSL for Local Government elections.

 The petition was filed by retired Army Colonel W.M.R. Wijesundera in January on the basis that he was informed by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (EC) that the election can only be funded through Government revenue or by obtaining a loan for the purpose. 

The petitioner questioned the benefit to the public and the country by holding a vote at this juncture. The Election Commission, including its Chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa, the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance Secretary and the Attorney General have been named as the respondents. 

The petitioner in his petition has demanded that a writ order be issued to the respondents preventing the holding of a Local Government election and to impose time-appropriate interim injunctions until the conclusion of the trial. 

Presidential faux pas on polls!