The Fundamental Rights petition by Charitha Gunarathne contesting the 20 June Parliamentary Election is to be taken up on Monday 11 May before the Supreme Court to support for granting of Leave to Proceed.

The petitioner is seeking a declaration from the Court to invalidate the Extraordinary Gazette notification declaring the 20 June election.

Petitioner Charitha Gunarathne cited the Election Commission, its Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and its members N. J. Abeysekera and S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, as well as Dr. P.B. Jayasundera who is the Secretary to the President, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe and the Attorney General as Respondents.

Petitioner seeks, inter alia, an Order from the Court quashing a decision taken by the 1st to 4th Respondents to conduct the General Election 2020 on 20 June of this year by publishing the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2172/3 dated 20 April 2020, and other decisions, actions and orders subsequent to the aforesaid Gazette.

Petitioner pleads that the Fundamental Right of equal protection of law has blatantly been violated by the aforesaid actions of the Election Commission and its members.

He pleads that purported order was compelled to be published in the Extraordinary Gazette Notification by them due to the actions and omissions of the 5th Respondent who represents the President.

He pleads that the conduct and the acts of the Election Commission and its members and the Director General of Health Services are malicious, arbitrary and capricious, illegal, and ultra vires due to which the intervention of the Supreme Court fit and proper.

He also pleads that, in the event of Election Commission and its members taking any steps pending this application to conduct the Parliamentary Election which is due on 20 June, it would cause substantial loss, damage, hardship and prejudice to him and citizens at large.  (SSS)

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