SC petition seeking PC polls fixed for 17 June

By S.S. Selvanayagam                                                                             

The Supreme Court yesterday fixed the Writ petitions seeking the Election Commission to hold the Provincial Council Elections for support on 17 June.

The Bench comprised Justices Sisira J De Abrew, Lalith Dehideniya and P. Padman Surasena.

One Writ Petition was filed by six petitioners, the members of the Sathya Gaveshakayo (‘Truth Seekers’) organisation.

Petitioners cited the Election Commission, its Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, its members Nalin Abeysekara and Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole as Respondents.

They are seeking an Order from the Court in the nature of Writ of Mandamus directing the Election Commission to hold the Provincial Council Elections in respect of Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Eastern, Central, Wayamba and Northern Provincial Councils.

They are also seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to take action required by Article 104 B of the Constitution, read with Provincial Council Act No.2 of 1988 as it stood prior to the enactment of the Act No.17 of 2017, for the election of members to Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Eastern, Central, Wayamba and Northern Provincial Councils.

They point out that terms of office of the six Provincial Councils ended and they are already dissolved.

 Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC appeared for the Petitioners. Uditha Egalahewa PC with N. K. Ashokbharan appeared for the Election Commissioner.