NPP challenges rejection of nominations for three Pradeshiya Sabhas

29 March 2025 10:53 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 12 Bookmark

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Colombo, March 29 (Daily Mirror) - The National People’s Power (NPP), the ruling party of Sri Lanka, filed three separate writ petitions challenging the rejection of their nomination papers submitted for the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha, Medawachchiya Pradeshiya Sabha, and Damana Pradeshiya Sabha for the Local Authorities Election 2025.

NPP Secretary Dr. Nihal Abesinghe and several others filed these writ petitions, naming the relevant Returning Officers, District Election Officers, the Chairman and Members of the Election Commission and several others as respondents.

The petitioners are seeking an interim order restraining the relevant returning officers from conducting the Local Authorities Election 2025 for these three Pradeshiya Sabhas, scheduled to be held on May 6.

The petitioners state that the NPP’s nomination paper submitted for the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha was rejected by the Returning Officer on several grounds, including the failure to submit certified copies of the birth certificates or affidavits verifying the date of birth of candidates designated as youth candidates. This omission is deemed not to comply with Sections 28(4a), 28(2a) and 31(1)(e) of the Local Government Election Ordinance.

The petitioners further state that the nomination paper submitted for the Medawachchiya Pradeshiya Sabha was also rejected due to the failure of all candidates to authenticate their signatures on the affirmation, as required by the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. This omission is deemed not to comply with Section 28(4) of the Local Government Election Ordinance.

These petitions were filed through Attorney-at-Law Manjula Balasooriya.