Court hears petition against Interim Administration

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2003, 00:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Court of Appeal directed the Attorney General (AG) to submit written submission for the petition filed by a group of persons including the Chief Incumbent of the Seruvila Raja Maha Vihare, Venerable Saranakeerthi Thera, against the establishment of an interim administrative council for the northeast province without holding a referendum, legal sources in Colombo said.

The Seruvila Sri Mangala Raja Maha Vihare is located in the Trincomalee district, south of the east port town, sources said.

The petitioners sought the Court of Appeal to order the Government of SriLanka (GoSL) to hold a referendum before establishing an interim administrative council for the northeast. They argued in court when the petition was taken up for inquiry Friday that views of the people of the two provinces should be sought before setting up the interim administrative structure, court sources said.

The Attorney General in his preliminary objection told the court that the President has the power to call the referendum.

The AG further moved that the petition should be rejected, as the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to hear this petition, legal sources said.

However the Court of Appeal instructed the Attorney General to submit his written submission on the petition on or before November 3 this year, legal sources said.