The Supreme Court yesterday (18) allowed Treasury Secretary to file an affidavit in court, in relation to the petition filed requesting that the decision to hold the Local Government Election
be postponed on a request made by Additional Solicitor General who represented the Treasury Secretary.
The Court made this order when the writ petition filed by retired army colonel W.M.R. Wijesundara seeking an order to suspend the decision to hold Local Government polls citing that the country is in a severe economic crisis, was taken up before the Supreme Court yesterday
This petition was taken before a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice S.Thurairajah.
Making submissions on behalf of the Chairman and members of the Election Commission, President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris stated that the Treasury has not yet notified that it cannot provide the necessary funds for the holding of the Local Government election and that all necessary steps have been taken in accordance with the law to hold the elections.
President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha,who appeared for the petitioner, requested to give an approximate date for considering the petition. After considering the facts, the Bench decided to call the petition on February 10.
Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa and the members of that commission, the Prime Minister, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, the Cabinet Secretary and the Attorney General have been cited as respondents in this petition.
The petitioner said that the Election Commission had said that it will cost about Rs.10 billion to conduct the election and that the state should meet the money through revenue or borrowing.
The petitioner who pointed out that the country is currently in a major economic crisis, and people will have to face more economic and social constraints if such a large amount of money is spent for the Local Government election.
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