FR petitions against election date fixed for support

The Supreme Court has decided to support the multiple Fundamental rights petitions filed challenging the date set for the General Election, on May 18 and 19.

Seven parties including Attorney at Law Charitha Gunaratne, Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and Journalist Victor Ivan, Samagi Jana Balawegaya had filed fundamental rights petitions challenging the election date.

The petitions were taken up before a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando, and Justice S. Thurairajah.

The petition filed by Attorney at Law Charitha Gunaratne was summoned first and President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran, representing the petitioner, informed the court that the issuance of preferential numbers for the general election is due tomorrow (12).

If the preferential numbers are issued, the candidates might commence campaigning by visiting voters’ homes, which could result in a serious health threat, he pointed out.

Therefore, the President’s Counsel appealed to the Court to issue an interim relief order to suspend elections.

Responding to this, the judge bench stated that it is difficult to issue an interim relief order without consulting the members of the respondent election commission. However, the Chief Justice pointed out that the Elections Commission is capable of making a decision regarding this matter.

Subsequently, President’s Counsel Sumanthiran requested the court for a date considering these petitions as urgent cases.

Accordingly, the three-member Supreme Court Bench concluded that all relevant petitions will be considered on the 18th and 19th of May.

Meanwhile, 08 interim petitions were also filed before the Supreme Court against these aforementioned FR petitions.

The court informed the lawyers that if there are further interim petitions they should be filed before 3 pm tomorrow.