Ex-Galle Mayor files SC Writ: SC terminates proceedings

By S.S.Selvanayagam

Supreme Court yesterday terminated the proceedings of the Writ petition filed on Thursday seeking the Supreme Court to issue a writ order invalidating the gazette notification calling for a Presidential Election.

The matter was taken up before the Bench comprising Justices Vijith K. Malalgoda and P. Padman Surasena.

When the Court called the petition to support for granting of Leave to Proceed, the lawyer for the petitioner moved to withdraw it stating that the petitioner wants to withdraw the petition. Court reprimanded and terminated the proceedings.

Former Galle Mayor N.G. Methsiri De Silva in his Writ petition cited Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, Members of EC N.J. Abeysekara and S. Ratnajeevan Hoole as well as the Attorney General as respondents

He had stated that an extraordinary gazette was issued on 18 September by the Elections Commission (EC) declaring that the Presidential Election would be held on 16 November. The nominations are called for said election.

Petitioner had also had sought an Interim Order to restrain the Chairman and the members of the Election Commission to be restrained from calling for the nomination of candidates for the Presidential Election scheduled for 7 October this year.