Writ petition filed by Ranjith Aluwihare urging to re-count preferential votes fixed for support

The writ petition filed by former Deputy Minister Ranjith Aluwihare seeking an order to re-count the preferential votes secured by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya candidates who contested last General Election from Matale district was today fixed for support by Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal fixed the petition for support on August 6.

According to the General Election results held on August 5, 2020, Samagi Jana Balawegaya party was able to secure one parliamentary seat. Accordingly, Rohini Kumari Kaviratne was elected as a Member of Parliament by securing highest preferential votes from Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

The petitioner stated that several irregularities had occurred when counting preferential votes at Laggala and Dambulla counting centers. He further alleged that counting agents of Samagi Jana Balawegaya had been sent out from the counting centers resulting in immense prejudice to the petitioner.

The petitioner named Matale District Returning Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Elections (Matale District), Election Commission Chairman and its members, Rohini Kumarai Kaviratne, Wasantha Aluwihare, U.R. Dayanandasiri, Maithree Dowson, Suppaiah Yogaraja, Ibrahim Mohammed, Tissa Bandara Herath and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara as respondents in the petition.
 
 President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena appeared for the petitioner Ranjith Aluwihare.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)