Court of Appeal quashes order mandating all SJB nominees be women in two Pradeshiya Sabhas

Colombo, Nov. 14 (Daily Mirror) - The Court of Appeal ruled that the directives issued by the Returning Officers of the Kekirawa and Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabhas, requiring all nominated members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to be women, are arbitrary, irrational and unreasonable.

Accordingly, Court of Appeal Justice Gihan Kulatunga issued a writ order quashing the mandatory requirement that all six nominated members in the two Pradeshiya Sabhas be women.

"It is now left to the Returning Officers upon considering the relevant matters, to determine the number of women members that the SJB is required to nominate," Justice Kulatunga observed.

The Court held that two Returning Officers have acted arbitrarily, in excess of their authority, and that there is a denial of the

rights and the legitimate expectation of the petitioners.

Senior Counsel Sandamal Rajapakse with Counsel Kalpanee Dissanayake appeared for the petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe with State Counsel Dilantha Sampath appeared for the Attorney General.