April 01, Colombo (LNW): In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal has directed Returning Officers to suspend all activities related to the forthcoming Local Government (LG) Elections in areas where petitions have been filed contesting the rejection of nomination papers.
This suspension will remain in effect until April 02, 2025, pending further judicial review.
The ruling, issued by the bench of Acting President Justice Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice K.P. Fernando, came after a series of petitions were lodged by political parties and independent groups.
These petitions were filed in response to the rejection of their nomination papers for various local government positions, including those for the prestigious Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).
Amongst the petitioners is the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), which is challenging the rejection of its nominations across multiple local councils.
The court’s decision to suspend the election-related activities comes as these legal disputes are still under deliberation, raising concerns over the transparency and fairness of the nomination process.
