SL Presidential election case to be taken up for inquiry

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 01:34 GMT]
Three-member bench of the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court is to commence its inquiry Friday into the petition filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) regarding the date of Sri Lanka Presidential election. JHU has sought the Supreme Court to order the Election Commissioner to hold the Presidential election before the end of this year, legal sources said.

JVP parliamentarian Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera has filed the petition citing Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake and Attorney General Mr.K.C.Kamalasbaeyson as respondents, legal sources said.

1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka has clearly stated that the Presidential election should be held at the end of the six-year term from last date of such election. Hence the six-year term of Sri Lanka's President Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunge comes to end on December 22, 2005. Therefore the Supreme Court should order the Commissioner of Election to fix the date for the next Presidential election between October 22 and November 22 of 2005, the petition states.

Meanwhile Presidential media unit Thursday issued a press release on the Presidential election controversy. The release follows:

"President sought SC opinion on the recommendation of her party President Chandrika Kumaratunge has made a reference to the Supreme Court invoking consultative jurisdiction under Article 129 of the Constitution of the Republic, seeking an interpretation on the provision relating to the date of the next Presidential Election.

The President decided to adopt this course of action after it was recommended to her by the Central Committee of the SLFP and after consultations with the high command of the PA. Both the Presidential candidate and the Prime Ministerial nominee of the party had also strongly suggested that the President make a reference to the Supreme Court on this matter."