SC orders Akurana PS vote recount

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered to recount the votes in the last Local Government Election in respect of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha.

The Bench comprised Justice Nihal Jayasinghe, Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and Justice Saleem Marsoof PC.

Eighteen petitioners including P.S. Halaldeen cited 98 respondents including Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.

The petitioners stated that they contested for Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha at the last Local Government Election held on March 30, 2006. All the major parties including United Peoples' Freedom Alliance, United National Party and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna contested at the election.

The petitioners stated that when the votes were rechecked, there were invalid votes both in the UNP and UPFA bundles. The petitioner had asked for a recount but their request was refused and final results was announced.

The petitioners stated that according to the final results, UNP had won eight seats and UPFA had won six seats. They stated that the decision to declare the final results were arbitrary and unreasonable and sought to void the final results and also sought a recount.