Petition seeking dismissal of Samagi Jana Balawegaya nomination papers rejected
June 9, 2020 01:37 pm
The Supreme Court has decided to dismiss the petition filed seeking a writ order for the Elections Commission to reject the nomination papers submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya for the upcoming general election.
The petition was taken up today (09) before a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, L. T. B. Dehideniya and Preethi Padman Surasena.
Previously, the petition was set to be considered on May 22; however, it was postponed to today upon the request of the respondents’ attorneys and with the agreement of both petitioners and respondents’ parties.
The petition filed by United National Party (UNP) candidate Oshala Herath names members of the Election Commission including Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balawegaya former MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Chairman of ‘Ape Jathika Peramuna party’ Senaka Haripriya de Silva and its Secretary Diana Gamage as respondents of the petition.
The petitioner claims that the nomination papers submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya for contesting at the General Election 2020 are illegal and appeals to the Supreme Court to rule that the Elections Commission has no jurisdiction to accept the nomination papers and nullify relevant nomination papers.
