Supreme Court rejects FR petitions

Supreme Court of Sri Lanka dismissed two fundamental rights petitions filed by the UNP and JVP challenging the dissolution of North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils. The Supreme Court said the Governors of the Provincial Councils had followed legal ways to dissolution of the both Provincial Councils. The bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, Sriyani Thilakawardene and K. Sripawan.

Petitioners A.M.R. Banda Abesinghe and H.M. Anil Ratnayake for the North Central provincial council and A. A. Wijetunga and K. S. S. Perera for the Sabaragamuwa provincial council cited governors of the respective province and the commissioner of elections, the respective returning officers and other as respondents. They filed two fundamental rights petitions in Supreme Court on 13th June asking an interim injunction on holding elections for the two Provincial Councils on the basis of their fundamental rights had been violated due to the dissolution of the councils.

Earlier the UNP said the dissolution of these councils was illegal and filed two petitions before the Supreme Court. The JVP also followed a similar way.
According to the government sources the provincial council elections of Sabaragamuwa and North-central province may also be scheduled to hold in August.
However Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) recently expressed displeasure at the government's decision to dissolve the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils.
Meanwhile General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake said they hold discussions with the other political parties to contest the proposed Provincial Council elections .