Five-member SC bench to hear election case

[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 August 2005, 01:19 GMT]
The Sri Lanka's Supreme Court (SC) Friday allowed the petition filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), all monks' party, in the Sri Lanka Presidential election date controversy to be heard before a five-member bench on August 22. JHU has sought the Supreme Court to order the Commissioner of Elections to hold the Presidential election before the end of this year, legal sources said.

The petition came up for inquiry Friday before a three-member bench of the Supreme Court chaired by the Chief Justice Mr.Sarath N.Silva, legal sources said.

The petitioner has cited the Commissioner of Elections Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake and the Attorney General Mr.K.C.Kamalasbaeyson as the respondents, legal sources said.

Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera, JHU parliamentarian has filed the fundamental rights violation petition seeking the declaration of the Supreme Court that the next Presidential election should be held this year, legal sources said.

The petitioner also has asked the Supreme Court for a declaration that the term of the office of President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge expired upon the completion of six years from December 22, 1999, legal sources said.

The petitioner said in terms of Article 31 (03) of the Constitution the next Presidential election should be held on any date between October 22, 2005 and November 22, 2005, legal sources said.