CA dismisses 14 Writ Petitions over rejection of LG nomination papers

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday (24) dismissed 14 Writ Petitions over the rejection of nomination papers. Eight petitions were in relation to female candidates. 

The Bench comprised Justices P. Padman Surasena (President/CA) and Justice Shiran Gunaratne.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United People’s Freedom Front, among others, have filed Writ Petitions.

Petitions have been filed for Kinniya PS, Buttala PS, Tripane PS, Weligama UC, Panadura UC, Mahiyanganaya PSD, Maharagama UC and Badulla UC, among others.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in its Writ Application seeks the Court to validate its nomination paper submitted for the election of members for the Maharagama Urban Council in the forthcoming local polls.

Petitioners Nishantha Wimalachandra, Savithri Gunasekara, Angoda Liyanage Pradeep Chaminda, Wanniarachchige Don Amarapala and Inoka Anuratha Ranaweera cited Returning Officer Damayanthi Wanigasinghe, SLFP Secretary Dumminda Dissanayake, UNP Secretary Kabir Hashim and JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva as respondents.

They filed the Writ Petition over the rejection of their nomination papers wherein one female candidate had been inadvertently misquoted as male.

They seek a declaration from the Court that their nomination paper tendered to the Returning Officer in respect of the election of the members to Maharagama Urban Council is valid for the purposes of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance and/or liable to be received and accepted as valid for the election of members to the Maharagama Urban Council.

They claim the decision of the Returning Officer to reject their nomination paper is capricious and erroneous.