Ali Zahir Moulana Seiyad of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has been appointed as a Member of Parliament for the Batticaloa electoral district, by way of an Extraordinary Gazette notification.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka on Wednesday (11 Oct.) issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification, announcing Moulana’s appointment to the post, following the disqualification of former minister Ahamed Zainulabdeen Nazeer’s parliamentary seat.

The Secretary General of Parliament has informed the Election Commission, under Section 64 (1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, that a vacancy has occurred in the membership of the Ninth Parliament by reason of Mr. Ahamed Zainulabdeen Nazeer ceasing to be a Member of Parliament.

The Gazette states that the Returning Officer, for the said Electoral District was directed by the Election Commission under Section 64(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981 to fill this vacancy as provided for under paragraph 13 (b) of Article 99 of the Constitution.

Accordingly, the Returning Officer has made a return to the effect that Mr. Ali Zahir Moulana Seiyad was declared elected as a Member of Parliament for the said Electoral District and has submitted the report to the Election Commission, the gazette stated. 

Taking to ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) in this regard, Ali Zahir Moulana said “This judgement sets a critical precedent to the political establishment - strengthening the ideologies & principles of political parties, fortifying the doctrines of maintaining a civilized, orderly democracy & most importantly consolidating the absoluteness of our Constitution”.

The former State Minister, who is a senior member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), had previously served as a Batticaloa District MP under the United National Party (UNP).

Gazette Notification by Adaderana Online on Scribd