Independent Group challenges rejection of nomination

The petitioner states that he handed over his nomination paper to the Returning Officer at 11:55 a.m. on March 20, 2025, along with the required documents

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

An independent group has filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal, seeking to quash the returning officer’s decision to reject the nomination papers submitted for the Hanguranketha Pradeshiya Sabha and requesting an order for its re-acceptance.  

The petition was filed by the leader of the independent group, J.M. Jayaratne, who had submitted nominations for the relevant Pradeshiya Sabha in the local government elections.  

The Returning Officer in charge of the Hanguranketha area and other relevant parties have been named as respondents in the petition.  

Filing this petition through Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayawardena, the petitioner states that he handed over his nomination paper to the Returning Officer at 11:55 a.m. on March 20, 2025, along with the required documents.  

The petitioner further alleges that the Returning Officer refused to accept the nomination paper, citing that the deadline had already passed.  

Despite filing appeals against this decision, the petitioner claims that no favorable outcome was achieved.  

Accordingly, the petitioner has requested the court to nullify the Returning Officer’s decision and issue an order directing the acceptance of his nomination.