Upcoming LG polls: Law to be amended for using 2024 voter registers

By A.J.A. Abeynayake

The Attorney General (AG) has informed the Supreme Court yesterday (11) that the Cabinet of Ministers has taken action to amend the Local Government (LG) Elections (Special Provisions) Bill to enable the LG polls to be conducted using the 2024 voters’ registers thereby safeguarding the voting rights of young voters.

Deputy Solicitor General Nirmalan Vigneswaran, representing the AG, conveyed this to the Court during the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition seeking an order to hold the LG Elections, based on the 2024 voters’ list.

The petition was heard by a three-member Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, Justice Arjuna Obeysekara, and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

The Deputy Solicitor General also noted that the Cabinet had instructed amendments to legislation allowing the invalidation of previously submitted nominations and enabling fresh calling of nominations for the LG poll.

President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, representing the petitioner, requested the Court to order the publication of advertisements in newspapers, in all three official languages, regarding this case. He argued that such measures would allow any interested party to intervene, as the case is of significant public importance.

The Supreme Court bench granted the request and directed the petitioning party to issue notices to the respondents, including the Chairman of the Election Commission to appear before the Court.

The Court ordered the petition to be taken up again on 29 January 2025.