FR cases seeking to postpone election withdrawn

Wasantha Ramanayake

Two Fundamental Right cases filed by ITAK General Secretary and Batticaloa Mayoral candidate seeking to postpone election with regard to nine local bodies in the Eastern Province yesterday were withdrawn by their counsel reserving the rights to file fresh cases.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC noted that the Court could not interfere with the democratic process. The Chief Justice noted that the Court could however assist the petitioner in their security concerns.

At the outset Senior State Counsel N. Pulle raising several objections argued that cases should be dismissed since there are no provisions to postpone the elections, and the Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister and the relevant returning officers had not been made parties.

Petitioners counsel M.A. Sumanthiran submitted that his clients were seeking to postpone the elections as there was no conducive environment to hold an election since the security of the area had been deteriorated.

Parliamentarian and the ITAK General Secretary M.S. Senadhirajah and ITAK Batticaloa Mayoral candidate Indra Kumar filed the cases stating that their rights would be affected, if the election was to be held as scheduled.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC with Justices Nihal Jayasinghe and Saleem Marsoof PC.