EC, however, may appeal to SC

The Court of Appeal yesterday lifted the interim injunction, which suspended electieons to 18 local councils, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). The decision, delivered yesterday morning, clears the way for elections to proceed in those local government bodies. The interim order had originally been issued in response to legal challenges.

Local government elections are expected to be held on 06 May, following this ruling.

The petitions were heard before a bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Acting President of the Court, Justice Mohamed Laffar, and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe, representing the respondent returning officers, informed the court that the respondents would not be presenting objections to the petitions. He stated that the returning officers had acted in accordance with the law regarding the nominations in question but requested

the court to issue an appropriate order as it saw fit.

 Counsel appearing for the petitioners requested the court to direct the returning officers to accept the previously rejected nomination papers.

 After considering the submissions, the Court of Appeal issued a writ order invalidating the decisions made by the returning officers to reject the nomination papers. The court subsequently issued another writ order directing the returning officers to re-accept the rejected nominations.

As a result, the stay orders that had previously prevented elections in several local government bodies—including Uda Palatha, Patha Dumbara, Panwila, Akurana, Harispattuwa, Hanguranketha, and Kuliyapitiya—were lifted.

 Meanwhile, Election Commission sources said they have instructed officials to obtain copies of recent Court of Appeal rulings related to the 06 May elections, with the intention of submitting appeal applications to the Supreme Court.

Separately, sources at the Department of Government Printing reported that approximately 10 million ballot papers have already been printed for the 06 May election. Government Printer Pradeep Pushpa Kumara told the media that the printing process is expected to be completed by the end of this month.According to the Election Commission, a total of 17,296,330 eligible voters have been registered for the upcoming election.

By Norman Palihawadane and A.J.A. Abeynayake