Petition filed against failure to release funds to hold LG election
Posted on February 21st, 2023
Courtesy Adaderana
A petition has been filed against the decision taken not to release the funds allocated through the 2023 Budget to the Election Commission for holding the Local Government (LG) election.
The fundamental rights petition has been filed with the Supreme Court requesting a verdict that the basic human rights of the public have been violated through the related decision.
The petition has been submitted by the General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, naming a group of individuals including the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, the Chairman and the members of the Election Commission as the respondents of the petition.
The petition seeks a court order declaring that the respondents have violated the fundamental rights of the public through the relevant decision.
Election Commission unable to reissue election deposits
Despite having informed the Supreme Court of the difficulties pertaining to the holding of the 2023 Local Government election, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka has stated that they are unable to refund the election deposits which have already been placed.
Speaking to Ada Derana about the matter, Chairman of the Commission, Attorney-at-Law Nimal. G. Punchihewa stated that the deposits could be refunded only in the event the nominations submitted for the upcoming election are cancelled.
He further stated that in order for the nominations to be cancelled, the Government is required to table a Bill in this regard before the Parliament, else, nominations will be cancelled only by way of a gazette notification.
Punchihewa noted, however, that no official statement has been made confirming that the LG election will not be held this year, but only that the Supreme Court has been informed of the difficulties to hold the election on the currently scheduled date – 09 March 2023.