SC Interim Order prevents holding LG Polls for Kalutara PS

The Supreme Court yesterday (16) issued an Interim Order suspending holding of the Local Government Election for the Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha (PS).

This Interim Order was issued when a Writ Petition filed by New Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary W.K. Thilak Waragoda and Shenal Amith Welgama were taken up for consideration. This interim ban will remain in force until the hearing of the petition is over.

The Returning Officer had rejected the nomination paper submitted by the New Lanka Freedom Party to the Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha for the upcoming Local Government elections citing that the seal of the Justice of the Peace has not been placed.

The petition was filed before the Supreme court seeking an order invalidate the decision of the returning officer

At the time the petition was called before the Supreme Court, Attorney-at-Law Viran Corea appearing for the petitioner stated that although the official seal of the Justice of Peace was not placed in this nomination paper, it has been properly placed on the documents submitted along with it. He noted that it is against the law to evaluate the nomination papers considering only technical matters. The case was fixed for May 12. Attorney-at-Law Dharshana Weraduwa appeared for the Elections Commission.