CA to take up all 8 LG petitions over rejection of nomination papers on 15 Jan.

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday decided to take up on 15 January the eight similar writ petitions against the rejection of nomination papers over the issue of female candidates being misidentified. 

The bench comprised justices L.T.B. Dehideniya (CA President) and Shiran Gunaratne.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United People’s Freedom Front have filed the writ petitions.

Petitions have been filed for Kinniy PS, Buttala PS, Tripane PS, Weligama UC, Panadura UC, Mahiyanganaya PSD, Maharagama UC and Badulla UC.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in its writ application seeks Court to validate its nomination paper submitted for the election of members to the Maharagama Urban Council at the forthcoming local government polls.

Petitioners Nishantha Wimalachandra, Savithri Gunasekara, Angoda Liyanage Pradeep Chaminda, Wanniarachchige Don Amarapala and Inoka Anuratha Ranaweera cited Returning Officer Damayanthi Wanigasinghe, SLFP Secretary Dumminda Dissanayake, UNP Secretary Kabir Hashim and JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva as respondents.

They filed the writ petition over the rejection of their nomination paper wherein one female candidate has been inadvertently misidentified as male.

They seek a declaration from Court that their nomination paper tendered to the Returning Officer in respect of the election of members to Maharagama Urban Council is valid for the purposes of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance and liable to be received for the election of members to the Maharagama Urban Council.

They claim the decision of the Returning Officer to reject their nomination paper is wrong.