Petition against Northern polls

Wednesday, 11 September 2013 01:39 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A petition has been filed in the Appeals Court seeking an interim injunction against the Northern Provincial Council elections. The petition has been filed by the Sinhala Jathika Peramuna and cites the Elections Commissioner and Returning officers of the North as respondents. Secretary of the Sinhala Jathika Peramuna, Jayantha Liyanage says the conditions in the North are not conducive to hold a free and fair election. He cites one of the reasons as being that several Sinhalese and Muslim families originally from the North have yet to be resettled in their homes. Liyanage also said that parts of the North which was under LTTE control are still heavily mined and so elections cannot be held under those conditions. The Sinhala Jathika Peramuna is also seeking a Mandamus from court, Liyanage added. The Northern Provincial Council elections are scheduled to take place on September 21. (Colombo Gazette)

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