AG expresses inability to appear for EC in FR petition against election date

The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that he is not in a position to appear for Election Commission and its members in a Fundamental Rights petition case.

The petition has been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the date set for the General Election, stated the Coordinating Officer Attorney General.

This was informed to the court when the multiple Fundamental Rights petitions filed against the election date, before the three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando, and Justice S. Thurairajah.

The decision of the Attorney General was informed to the court by Additional Solicitor General Indika Devamuni de Silva, who represented the Attorney General.

However, it was notable that a lawyer represented Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole, a member of the Elections Commission, before the court.

Seven parties including Attorney at Law Charitha Gunaratne, Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and Journalist Victor Ivan, Samagi Jana Balawegaya had filed fundamental rights petitions challenging the election date.

The Attorney General, on behalf of the President, Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, and Members of the Commission N. J. Abeysekara and Ratnajeevan Hoole have been named as respondents of the petition.

The petitions were fixed for support on the 18th and 19th of May.