Former Galle Mayor files SC Writ challenging Presidential Poll

By S.S. Selvanayagam

A Writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court yesterday seeking the Court to issue a writ order declaring the gazette notification to call for the Presidential Election was illegal.

Former Galle Mayor N.G. Methsiri De Silva in his 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 states 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 on for the said election. Petitioner is seeking an interim Order as well to restrain the Chairman and the members of the Election Commission from calling for nomination of candidates for the Presidential Election scheduled for 7 October this year.