Court blocks SJB women’s nominations in Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha

Colombo,June 11 (Daily Mirror)- The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order staying the Commissioner General of Election from naming the women members for the seats obtained by the Samagi Jana Balawagaya (SJB) on the basis of proportional representation at the Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha elections. 

Court of Appeal Justice Gihan Kulatunga made this order pursuant to a writ petition filed by two SJB candidates for the Local Government elections.

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

The petitioners state that for the Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha, 17 members were to be elected from all the parties, out of which three members of the Samagi Janab
 Balawagaya were allocated on the proportional representation.

The petitioners stated that by letter dated 12.05.2025, the Anuradhapura Returning Officer informed the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya that the party had secured a total of three seats in the Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha, all of which were allocated on the basis of proportional representation. Accordingly, female members whose names appear 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. 

The petitioners stated that the letter sent by the Returning Officer mentioning that women members should be appointed to the three seats obtained through the proportional representation for the Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha is illegal and an act done beyond his legal authority. 

The petitioners state that as per Section 65AA of the Local Authorities Election Ordinance No. 53 of 1946 as amended, it provides that where a political party has received less than 20% of the total votes in a Local Authority area, and fewer than three members have been elected from that political party, the Commissioner of Elections shall not have the authority to determine the apportionment of women members from that political party.

Senior Counsel Sandamal Rajapakse with Kalpanee Dissanayake and Gihan Siriwardena instructed by Sachintha Rodrigo appeared for the petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe appeared for the Attorney General.