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| Thursday, 18 March 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Galle Municipal Council election petition taken up for hearing The Galle Election Petition was taken up before the High Court Judge of Galle. The election petition relates to the Galle Municipal Council. Petitioner Bandaralage Chandrike alleges that there was general intimidation of a large number of voters in the Galle Municipal Council on May 20, 2002 the day of the election. In certain polling booths polling agents were chased out, it was alleged. On the ground of non compliance of the Election Law serious allegations were made against certain officials of the Elections Department who have been made respondents. There were 41 polling booths in the Galle Municipal area. It was alleged that at All Saints Vidyalaya six ballot paper books were missing. At Methodist Senior School, Maitipe four ballot paper books were missing. It was also alleged that ballot papers were to be found in the Galle town. It was alleged that election officials had not performed their election duties with due diligence. The Court had earlier granted an interim stay order on the 1st Respondent Commissioner of Elections to preserve all ballot paper book journals and other relevant documents relating to the election to the Galle Municipal Council. Objections were filed against the petitioner on various grounds mainly relating to non compliance with the Election Petition Rules. Senior Counsel for the petitioner S. S. Sahabandu PC stated that the English version of the Local Authorities Election Ordinance states that the rules relating to Parliamentary Elections should be rules that pertain to elections under the Local Government Ordinance. However, he stated that the Sinhala version of the Local Government Ordinance did not have such a provision. The Sinhala and Tamil version of the Ordinance remains, and the rules mentioned in the English version do not apply to this case. As a result the objection has no validity. The Court also heard submission of State Counsel and gave a date for Written Submission of parties. S. S. Sahabandu PC with Lalith Gamage and Daya Vitharana appeared for the petitioner. State Counsel appeared for some of the Respondents. |
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