NE election postponement to be challenged in court

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 April 2002, 18:50 GMT]
The Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the third largest political party in the parliament Friday announced that it has decided to file case contesting the postponement of local government elections in the northeast province. "Even though the Commissioner of Elections has the authority to postpone the elections he has to state the reasons for such postponement," said Mr. Sunil Yattawella, Legal Advisor of the JVP Friday.

He said "the Commissioner of Elections has failed to give sufficient reasons for the postponement of local government elections in the northeast province."

He added the JVP would file a case in the Court of Appeal in a day or two challenging the postponement.

The government announced that the local government elections in the Northeast Province would be held on March 25 along with the other local government institutions in the other provinces.

The Commissioner later postponed the Elections till September 25 under powers conferred on him through an amendment to the Local Government Ordinance act.

The amended act has empowered the Commissioner of Elections to postpone elections depending on reports from District Returning Officers on the ground situations.

The Tamil National Alliance wanted the northeast local government elections postponed enabling the displaced people residing in welfare centers and camps to vote in their own villages and to ensure the peace process being taken forward without any hindrance.

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