SLPP take on SC Petitioner

• Says EC should be committed to holding elections, not delaying them
• Insists party will continue to campaign for elections, especially Provincial Council polls

By Nuwan Senarathna 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday criticised Election Commission Member Prof. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole for filing a Fundamental Rights petition before Supreme Court against the dissolution of Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena. 

“The Elections Commission was formed to hold elections, not delay elections. Therefore, the actions of Prof. Hoole have raised concerns about the stance taken by a member of the Commission,” MP Susil Premajayantha told reporters at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort (NADA).

He noted Parliamentarians who support MP Mahinda Rajapaksa would question Prof. Hoole’s action to file a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court contesting President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament. 

Premajayantha pointed out an election is a fundamental right of citizens. He claimed the Election Commission had the responsibility to assure the right of the citizens to elect their representatives to governing bodies, including Parliament and the Executive. 

“When the Local Government election was postponed, none of the members of the Election Commission raised their voices against that nor did they filed petitions against the delay,” he charged.

He said that even though elections of six Provincial Councils had been delayed already, the Election Commission had not taken action to pressure the Parliament to hold them. “Elections were not held even in the Northern Provincial Council and Eastern Provincial Council. Prof. Hoole could have filed a petition for that as well, but he did not. Therefore, these actions have raised a lot of questions,” he said.

“Certain people who filed Fundamental Rights petitions before Supreme Court are under foreign influence,” he charged. 

Speaking to reporters, MP Dullas Alahapperuma also echoed MP Susil Premajayantha’s criticisms.

He noted SLPP MPs would use democratic channels to assess public opinion. “There are numerous ways to preserve democracy. At the moment, we are planning to call for Provincial Council elections to be held as soon as possible.” Alahapperuma said SLPP would call for elections to be held to show the public opinion and their support for the SLPP and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa. “Provincial Council elections would also reflect public opinion and who they actually support,” he added. 

Pix by Lasantha Kumara