Galle election petition:
Written submissions sought
Hiran H. Senewiratne
The Court of Appeal yesterday ordered to file written submissions of
the parties in the Galle District General election petition in respect
of the maintainability of the election petition filed by an unsuccessful
UNP candidate seeking a recount of all UNP preferential votes cast at
the last General Election.
The Bench comprised Justice Sathya Hettige PC and Justice Anil
Gooneratne.
President s Counsel DS Wijesinghe's appearing for two UNP
Parliamentarians Gayantha Karunatilleke and Manusha Nanayakkara.
Counsel JC Weliamuna appearing for petitioner Nishantha Pushpakumara,
an unsuccessful Galle District UNP candidate submitted that the
petitioner is prepared to bear the cost of the recount as suggested by
the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) for the Elections Commissioner.
The petition will be taken up for hearing on July 27.
Additional Solicitor General A Gnanathasan PC appearing for the
Elections Commissioner submitted that if the petitioner is prepared to
bear the cost, the Commissioner is prepared for a recount.
Petitioner W.A. Nishantha Pushpa Kumara cited the Elections
Commissioner, Galle District Returning Officer Asoka Jayatilleke, UNP
General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and all UNP candidates who contested
the election in the Galle District as respondents.
The petitioner complained to court that he observed that preferential
votes cast in his favour were added to the other UNP candidates at the
counting centre. He said he duly complained to the Returning Officer who
merely asked him to take legal action.
The petitioner stated that the counting of the preferential votes had
not been done according to the Parliamentary Election Act and sought a
recount of all votes cast in favour of the UNP. He sought to declare
that the election of two UNP members null and void and declare the
elected candidates accordingly.
JC Weliamuna appeared for the petitioner. ASG A. Gnanathasan PC with
Maithree Jayatilleke appeared for the first and second respondents.
President s Counsel DS Wijesinghe appeared for the fourth and the fifth
respondent MPs. |