Writ application to be supported on Thursday

Wasantha Ramanayake

COLOMBO: The Writ application that sought a recount of all preferential votes secured by the People’s Alliance candidates at the last Colombo Municipal Council Election is to be supported on Thursday (24).

A group of unsuccessful candidates of the People’s Alliance at the last Local Authorities Election for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) filed the application complaining of irregularities and malpractices when the preferential votes were entered into the tally and summery sheets.

Seven petitioners including A.K. Karunananda cited the Election Commissioner, The Returning Officer for the Colombo Municipality and CMC Opposition Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara as respondents.

The petitioners stated that the 1 and 2 respondents had failed their statutory duties with regard to the election.

They sought a Writ of Mandamus compelling the respondents to recount all the preferential votes obtained by the PA candidates and Writ of Certiorari quashing the election of the returned candidates of the PA if any of them found to have been unlawfully elected. Attorney-at-Law Asanga Bodharagama filed the petition.