• Hearing into FR petitions challenging dissolution of Parliament, election date continue for 7th day
• Counsel for intervenient petitioners begin submissions
• Manoharan de Silva PC says suspicion of petitioners and EC working together to delay poll

Counsel for the intervenient petitioners in the Fundamental Rights applications filed challenging the Gazette dissolving Parliament and on the date of the General Election told the Supreme Court yesterday that there are suspicions on whether the Election Commission and the Petitioners are working together to delay the holding of the Parliamentary Election.

Counsel Manoharan de Silva PC, who appeared for intervenient petitioner Pendula Endagama, said the SC has already indicated that the decision on holding the election rests with the independent Election Commission, and there were suspicions as to why this is being delayed.

The five-member Bench comprises Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, and Vijith Malalgoda.

Counsel De Siva in his submissions yesterday said that there is no provision in the law to reconvene a Parliament that has been dissolved unless the President is satisfied that there is an emergency, and there is no such situation at present.

He said that the petitioners were contradicting themselves, as while requesting that the Gazette on the dissolution be declared null and void, they are also asking for Parliament to be reconvened.

Further hearings will continue tomorrow.

Election delay undermines democratic rights: SLNPS