• The petitioners claimed  they were residents in Sainthamaruthu UC, but Sainthamaruthu has not been included in a gazette  notification calling for nominations

 By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Supreme Court yesterday further extended its interim order preventing acceptance of nominations for  Local Government elections for the Kalmunai Municipal Council, until final determination of a petition before Court.  

Meanwhile, Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising justices Vijith Malalgoda, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Mahinda Samayawardena granted leave to proceed with this Fundamental Rights application filed by two residents of Sainthamaruthu area.  

The petitioners claimed that they were residents in Sainthamaruthu Urban Council, but Sainthamaruthu has not been included in a gazette notification issued calling for nominations. The petitioners alleged that non-inclusion of Sainthamaruthu as a municipal council in the gazette notification is tantamount to violating their fundamental right guaranteed under the constitution.   

The Chairman and Members of the National Election Commission, Chairman and Members of the National Delimitation Committee, the Returning Officer for Ampara, and the Assistant Returning Officer were named as respondents in the petition.  

The petition was fixed for argument on March 24.

• The petition was fixed for argument on March 24'
• Non-inclusion of Sainthamaruthu as a municipal council in the gazette notification is tantamount to violating their fundamental right