Court halts Kekirawa Pradeshiya Sabha women’s seat nominations

Colombo, June 1 (Daily Mirror)- The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order restraining the Returning Officer of the Kekirawa Pradeshiya Sabha from implementing his letter requesting the nomination of women members for the seats obtained by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) under the proportional representation system at the Kekirawa Pradeshiya Sabha election.

Court of Appeal Justice Gihan Kulatunga made this order pursuant to a writ petition filed by two SJB members, including a candidate for the Local Government election.

This interim order will be effective until June 16 and notices were issued on the respondents accordingly.

The petitioners state that by letter dated 12.05.2025, the Returning Officer informed the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya that the party had secured a total of four seats in the Kekirawa Pradeshiya Sabha, of which three seats were obtained on the basis of proportional representation. Accordingly, a female member whose name appears either in the additional nomination list or the initial nomination paper should be

appointed in respect of the said three seats obtained under proportional

representation.

Senior Counsel Sandamal Rajapakse with Savana Ranatunga and Kalpanee Dissanayake instructed by Sachintha Rodrigo appearing for the petitioners argued that the letter sent by the Returning Officer 

mentioning that female members should be appointed to the three seats obtained through the proportional representation for the Kakirawa Pradeshiya Sabha is inter-alia illegal and ultra vires.