Petition seeking PC polls SC wants notice re-issued on EC

By S.S.Selvanayagam  

A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Sisira J De Abrew, Prasanna S. Jayawardena and P. Padman Surasena yesterday directed the petitioners to re-issue notice on the Election Commission and fixed the writ petition for March 29.  

• The writ petition was filed by six petitioners who are members of the Sathya Gaveshakayo 

The writ petition was filed by six petitioners who are members of the Sathya Gaveshakayo -‘Truth Seekers’ organization.  

Petitioners cited the Election Commission, Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and members Nalin Abeysekara and Ratnajeewa Hoole as respondents  

They are seeking an Order from the Court in the nature of writ of mandamus directing the Election Commission to hold elections to the Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Eastern, Central, Wayamba and Northern Provincial Councils.  

The petitioners are also seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to take action required by Article 104 B of the Constitution read with Provincial Council Act No.2 of 1988 as it stood prior to the enactment of the Act No.17 of 2017 for the election of members Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Eastern, Central, Wayamba and Northern Provincial Councils.  
They point out that terms of office of the six PCs had ended.