UNP nomination papers not in compliance with law - Solicitor General

Sarath MALALASEKERA

THE Returning Officer had rejected the nomination papers of the UNP for the forthcoming Local Government Election as they were not in compliance with the law, said Solicitor General President's Counsel C. R. de Silva before the Supreme Court on Friday.

The Bench comprised Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice T.B. Weerasuriya and Justice Nimal E. Dissanayake.

Earlier, the Court of Appeal issued an Interim Order on the Commissioner of Elections restraining him from holding the Local Government Election to elect members to the Colombo Municipal Council scheduled for March 30 this year until the final determination of the application before court.

The Court of Appeal order further restrained the implementation of the decision of the Returning Officer rejecting the Nomination papers filed by the United National Party.

The Elections Commissioner appealed against the order of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Solicitor General in his lengthy submissions quoting several Judgements submitted to court that Supun Lakmal who had not reached 18 years had been included in the UNP nomination list. According to the law Supun Lakmal should be 18 years on June 1, 2004.

But he had completed his 18th birthday only in February 2005. A youth is defined as a person who is over 18 years of age. The objective of the Legislature is to give a youth over 18 years of age a place in the country.

The Returning Officer has a right to reject any nomination paper that are not in compliance with the law, the Solicitor General added.

The Solicitor General will continue his submissions when the hearing resumes on Tuesday, March 7.

Solicitor General President's Counsel C.R. de Silva with Deputy Solicitor General A.Gnanadasan, Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando and Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle appeared for the Commissioner of Elections.

President's Counsel Faiz Mustapha with Upul Jayasuriya, Ronald Perera, Daya Pelpola, Sanjeewa Jayawardena and Raman Cassim appeared for the aggrieved party.

President's Counsel Dr. Jayantha de Almeida Gunaratne with Parakrama Agalawatte and Kishali Pinto Jayawardena appeared for the ninth respondent JVP.

Manohara de Silva with Udaya Gammanpila appeared for the eighth respondent JHU.