FR application against holding election in LTTE controlled areas

by Wasantha Ramanayake

Presidential Candidate Peter Felix Perera filed a fundamental rights application against the decision of the Elections Commissioner to hold the Presidential Election in the LTTE controlled areas.

The petitioner stated that there is an imminent infringement of the Fundamental rights of the petitioner as well as the other candidates and the voters alike if the election is to be held in the LTTE controlled areas. He stated that there was no guarantee that the election could be held freely and fairly in LTTE controlled areas taking into account the large scale election malpractice and intimidations by the LTTE in the last General Election.

The petitioner stated that the election monitors of the European Union came strongly against the way the last General Election was conducted in the LTTE controlled areas. He stated that it was impossible to hold a free and fair election in LTTE controlled areas since the LTTE was breaching the peace continuously.

The petitioner also sought an order directing the Commissioner to make it mandatory for the voters to establish their identities.

He had cited Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, IGP, Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda and the Attorney General as the respondents.