By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

A journalist yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking an order suspending the operation of Gazette notification issued by Election Commission, declaring businessman Dhammika Perera elected as a Member of Parliament.  Journalist Roel Raymond filed this petition naming businessman Dhammika Perera, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa and several others as respondents. 

The petitioner stated that a Gazette (Extraordinary) No. 2283/39 dated  June 10, 2022 was issued under the hand of the Election Commission, declaring Dhammika Perera elected as a member of Parliament (through the National List) to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Minister Basil Rohana Rajapaksa. 

The petitioner said Dhammika Perera’s name was not on any list of candidates submitted by the SLPP General Secretary in respect of the 2020 Parliamentary General Election. 

The petitioner maintained that the Dhammika Perera whose name was not included in the list submitted to the Election Commission by the SLPP in terms of Article 99A, or on any other nomination list submitted in respect of any electoral district by the SLPP at the 2020 Parliamentary General Election, is not eligible to be declared elected as an MP. 

The petitioner further stated that the purported declaration, that Dhammika Perera is elected as a Member of Parliament, is unconstitutional, illegal and contrary to law.