Any decision taken by Election Commission without quorum not valid - Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa | Daily News

Any decision taken by Election Commission without quorum not valid - Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa

According to election law, the date of the election should be announced by a Gazette notification and not through the media
Deciding election date requires the consent of the entire Commission

Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said that any decision taken by the Election Commission without a quorum was not valid.

He also said that although the Election Commission issued press releases noting the Local Government elections will be held on March 9, the date of the election has not yet been announced through a Gazette Notification.

He added, if the gazette announcement is made, the people would be able to get a correct understanding of how many members of the Commission had consented to announce the election date.

Dr. Mahanamahewa further said that according to the election law, the date of the election should be announced by a gazette notification and not through the media.

He said in the context of the meeting of the Constitutional Council on Wednesday (25) after passing the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, the Election Commission too was in a state of flux and as such it is imperative to issue the gazette notification.

Dr. Mahanamahewa explained that the names of all the five members of the Election Commission were mentioned in the Gazette calling for nominations for the Local Government bodies and a similar step should be followed to set the date for the election.

Dr. Mahanamahewa said that important work such as deciding the election date requires the consent of the entire Commission and asked what is being indirectly said by not announcing the date of the election through a gazette.

 


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