Releasing the imprest will depend on the receiving of the revenue and ability to borrow-EC

A writ petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking an order quashing the decision of the Election Commission to hold the Local Government elections before March 10 as reported by media.

Colonel (Retd.) W.M.R. Wijesundera filed this petition naming the Election Commission Chairman, members of Election Commission, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene and several others as respondents.

The petitioner states that the decision of the Election Commission to hold the Local Government Elections at this present crisis the entire Nation is faced with would lead to a disaster and leave the General Public with additional burden.

The petitioner stated that information, that have been obtained from the Election Commission using Right to Information Act , at least Rs 10 billion has to be allocated for conducting election in 2023 as per annual budget.
In response to the question whether such amount is available to conduct elections in the country the Election Commission in writing stated that the ‘releasing the imprest will depend on the receiving of the revenue and ability to borrow.”

Meanwhile, the petitioner further said that there are disruptive elements, driven purely by political motives and agenda, that are attempting to exert undue influence on the Elections Commission to conduct a Local government election, even though the present circumstances do not warrant the holding of such an election.