Court to hear SF’s petition

By Susitha R. Fernando


The election petition filed by General Sarath Fonseka challenging the election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka was fixed to be heard before a five-member Supreme Court bench on July 5.

The members of the bench include Chief Justice Asoka de Silva and Justices Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, K. Sripavan, P. A. Ratnayake and S. I. Imam and court directed the parties to file objection on or before the next hearing.

The Supreme Court also directed the Attorney General to make arrangements for the counsel to meet General Fonseka who is detained at the Navy Headquarters pending the Court Martial hearing. 

In his petition General Fonseka challenging the re-election of incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa alleged that the January 26 election was not free and fair and citizens of Sri Lanka were not free to elect the candidate of their choice as president.

General Fonseka asked Court to nullify the election of President Rajapaksa and instead to declare General Fonseka as the duly elected President of Sri Lanka.

He asked Court to order the Election Commissioner and his staff to re-count the ballots cast at the January 26 election and that it be done in the presence of the petitioner and the other 21 candidates or their authorized representatives.