Three voters petition SC to halt EC’s decision to hold Elpitiya PS election

By S.S.Selvanayagam

Three voters from the Elpitiya electorate yesterday filed a fundamental rights petition asking the Supreme Court to cancel the decision of the Election Commission to hold elections for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha.

Heshan Nayanajith and two other residents of the area in their petition requested the Supreme Court to block the Election Commission’s decision.

The petitioners cited the Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, the members of the commission and the Returning Officer in charge of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election as respondents.

The petitioners claim that the date for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha elections has been fixed without the Election Commission holding an appropriate meeting on the matter.

The petitioners point out that it is unconstitutional to hold the election again based on the nominations called for in 2017.

An Extraordinary Gazette notification had earlier been issued by Galle District Returning Officer Somarathna Vidhanapathirana confirming that the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election would take place on 11 October 2019.

On 30 August, the Supreme Court ordered the Elections Commission to hold elections for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha after accepting nominations from the Democratic United National Front (DUNF).