SL Supreme Court dismisses petitions against dissolution of provincial councils

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 01:11 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court Friday refused without inquiry four petitions filed separately by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) challenging the dissolution of the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council and North central Provincial Council by the respective governors was illegal. UNP filed two petitions, one against the dissolution of SPC and the other against NCPC. Like wise the JVP also filed two petitions, legal sources said.

The leaders of the opposition in the dissolved provincial councils filed their petitions on behalf of the UNP. On behalf of the JVP its councilors had filed its petition.

The petitions were taken up before the SC bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath Silva and Justices Shiranee Thilakawardene and K.Sripavan. Petitioners had cited the governors of the two provinces as respondents.

The Chief Justice dismissed these petitions without taking them for inquiry.

He said there was no prima facie case for the petitioners to file these petitions against the governors who have been empowered under the Constitution to dissolve the council on the recommendation of the chief minister.

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