By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition expected the Election Commission (EC) to go ahead with preparations for the Local Government polls in line with the Supreme Court directive to Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, said yesterday (06).
Addressing the regular Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya briefing at Nawala, the former External Affairs Minister emphasized that there couldn’t be any issue as the SC had prevented them from withholding funds allocated for LG elections.
Declaring that the EC couldn’t fail under any circumstances to act as per the Supreme Court directive, the lawmaker emphasized that there was absolutely no further requirement for EC to discuss this issue with the Finance Secretary.
Those who failed to comply with what Prof. Peiris called historic intervention made by the SC faced term of imprisonment for contempt of court.
Prof. Peiris pointed out that the apex court also issued another interim order preventing the misappropriation of money allocated to the Government Printer for the printing of ballot papers.
These interim orders were issued to the Finance Secretary named as respondent in the relevant petition, and the Attorney General, who was named on behalf of the President.
The order was given by the three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva and Priyantha Fernando. The fundamental rights petition was filed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP.
Prof. Peiris said that Finance Secretary and Government Printer Gangani Liyanage couldn’t take cover behind so-called cabinet directives and circulars issued at the behest of the executive as they had no option but to fulfill their obligations.
Prof. Peiris said that in addition to the Finance Secretary and the Government Printer, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne, too, worked overtime to undermine the EC. The SLPP rebel said that if those responsible make further attempts to delay the process, the Opposition would move court against them.
The ex-minister said that the Opposition expected EC Chairperson Nimal Punchihewa to announce the date for LG polls when a delegation of Opposition MPs meet him today (07).
The top Opposition spokesperson said that political parties in writing requested the EC to conduct LG polls before March 19. Interestingly, the JVP has joined for the first time other political parties to pressure the EC.