Bhathiya Barukanda
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that the President, as the Minister of Finance, and the members of the Election Commission have violated the fundamental rights of the poeple through the postponement of the 2023 Local Government Elections.
Accordingly, the court has ordered the Election Commission to take measures to hold the Local Government Elections as immediately as possible.
The Supreme Court issued this verdict today (22) after concluding the hearing of the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against the postponement of the 2023 Local Government elections.
The Supreme Court five-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Murdu Fernando, Gamini Amarasekara and Yasantha Kodagoda delivered this judgment pertaining to four Fundamental Rights petitions filed seeking an order directing the authorities to hold a free and fair Local Government elections.
These petitions had been filed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarian Harini Amarasuriya, the Centre for Policy Alternatives and the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
