Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasooriya appointed a fuller bench of five-judge panel to review the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition seeking to postpone the Presidential election until the Supreme Court clarifies the tenure of the current President.
The petition asks for a restraining order to delay the announcement of the presidential election. Petitioner C.D Lenawa, An entrepreneur from Moratuwa seeks a polling date, which could potentially change the nation’s political schedule. The Supreme Court has decided to take up the hearing on Monday (08).
Lenawa has applied to the Supreme Court under Articles 126, 12(1), 82(6), 3, 4, 118, and 125 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. He is seeking a declaration that Article 30(2) should not be interpreted as amended from the beginning by Section 3 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Additionally, he requests an interim order to prevent the members of the Election Commission from taking further steps toward conducting a Presidential Election in 2024 until the Supreme Court decides on this application.
Meanwhile Presidents Media Division today said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe firmly believes that the President’s term is five years, and supports the Election Commission’s actions to hold the Presidential Election in 2024.”
However, the opposition argues that the presidential election should proceed within the timeframe previously announced by the Election Commission, to uphold the democratic principles of the country.
Petition to the Supreme Court seeking an interim order to delay the upcoming presidential election !
