An election petition had been filed in the Colombo High Court seeking a declaration that the election of 23 candidates who contested for the Maharagama Urban Council under an independent group (motorcycle symbol) is invalid and that they are disqualified.
The petition had been filed by 21 candidates nominated by the UNP at the Local Authorities election held on February 10, for the election of the Maharagama Urban Council.
Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga fixed the election petition for trial and respondents were directed to file their objections on July 30.
The petitioners stated that they are entitled to be declared elected and returned to the Maharagama Urban Council in terms of the Local Authorities Election Ordinance No.53 of 1946 and especially Section 82 P (2) d, 82 R, 82S and 65 read with Section 82 of the Ordinance. The petitioners stated that 1 to 23 respondents of the election petition were not voters of the Maharagama electorate and neither were they ordinarily residents within the Maharagama electoral area. The petitioners stated that the elections of the members of the Independent Group No. 2 are void since they did not have the qualification required by Section 8 of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance. The petitioners alleged that most of the candidates who contested under motorcycle were not residents of Maharagama. The petitioners said the addresses listed next to their names read as Divulapitiya, Badalgama and Wellawatta. Counsel Suren Fernando with Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi appeared for the petitioners. Senior Counsel Kanishka Vitharana appeared for the petitioners. Counsel Lanka Dharmasiri with Mehran Careem appeared for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
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